A doctor specialising in child health on Queensland's Sunshine Coast will face court later this year after being charged by federal police with possessing child abuse material.
Tom Sun Yap, 43, had been working as a consultant paediatrician at the Sunshine Coast University Hospital until he was charged last month.
He has also been suspended by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency and the Queensland Office of the Health Ombudsman.
A spokeswoman for the Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service said "consultant paediatricians are never alone with a patient".
"There is always a nurse, parent or junior doctor in attendance."
She declined to comment on the specific matter because it was before the courts.
Court documents allege Dr Yap sent and possessed child exploitation material in April and May 2019.
He has been charged with using a carriage service to transmit child pornography material and possessing child abuse material obtained or accessed using a carriage.
The AFP says the investigation began in May when the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation received a report from the United States' National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about an online user uploading child abuse material using Yahoo and Google accounts.
Investigators allegedly linked the Birtinya man to the associated accounts.
A search warrant was executed at the man's home on May 18, with investigators seizing a laptop, mobile phone, USB and printed images.
The digital devices will now be subject to further forensic examination.
The maximum penalty for these offences is 15 years' imprisonment.
The matter was mentioned in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Friday and was adjourned until August 26.
