In case you have been visiting the web in search of information about Pradeep Dissanayake, then you must have read some very shocking news. This is a Melbourne-based skin physician, who owned the Melbourne Medical Skin Clinic, located in Windsor, who was just sentenced to over 10 years in prison due to serious crimes of cult activities and child abuse. This is what you should understand about this case and what it will entail for patients seeking reliable dermatology services in Melbourne.
Who Is Dr Pradeep Dissanayake?
Dr Pradeep Dissanayake was a physician specialising in skin cancer and operating the Melbourne Medical Skin Clinic, at Windsor, Victoria. On the one hand, he was a qualified medical practitioner who detected skin cancer, performed skin examinations, and performed minor surgery in his clinic. The clinic operated Monday to Friday between 8.30 am and 5.30 pm and served the patients in Windsor and the suburbs such as Prahran, St Kilda, South Yarra, and Toorak.
But behind this professional front, Dissanayake was living a double life, which would later send him to prison.
The Murder Case That Spirited Away Melbourne
Later on, in December 2024, the Victorian Court of Appeal made an important ruling that extended the jail sentence of Pradeep Dissanayike to 10 years and 10 months after initially being sentenced to eight years. The 52-year-old was admitted to several heavy offences, such as five counts of sexual penetration of children, two counts of sexually assaulting children under 16, and one charge of grooming.
How the Cult Operated
The court documents show that in 2016, Dissanayike returned from a trip to Sri Lanka and started preaching Buddhism mixed with Christianity, which later developed into a cult. Being the leader of this sect, he exercised an incredible power over the lives of his subjects:
- Members were compelled to send him text messages hourly to praise him.
- People were required to obtain permission to carry out simple tasks such as showering or going out.
- When he visited their homes, they had to kneel before him.
- Men and women were shown to live apart to keep away from “purity”.
- Parents had no choice but to abandon raising their biological children and move on to parenting the children of members of the same group.
- Members were even forced to give him money.
The Abuse of Trust
Dissanayake took advantage of his god-like position in the cult to have access to two 12-year-old girls who were daughters of his cult members. The abuse happened throughout a few months in 2021, including a visit to Bunnings in Melton to get paint supplies, and in hotel rooms and car parks.
When questioned by psychologists, Dissanayake tried to explain his acts in a religious context by saying that he was trying to teach his victims how to honour the lord and to heal his victims by giving them love.
What has Befallen Melbourne Medical Skin Clinic?
Since the crimes carried out by Dissanayake were rather serious and he is not free anymore, the patients should know that the Melbourne Medical Skin Clinic in Windsor is no longer under the supervision of Dissanayake. If you used to be a client of this clinic, or you are seeking the services of a dermatologist in the Windsor area, you will have to seek other providers.
Locating Dermatologists who are Trustworthy in Melbourne
In case you are seeking good skin cancer doctors and dermatologists in Melbourne, there are numerous good options:
At the Windsor/South Yarra Area:
- Avenue Advanced Skin Care in Windsor (the head of the plastic surgeon, Dr Allan Kalus)
- Melbourne Dermatology Clinic, Collins Street (established in 1972).
- Armadale, Malvern, and Prahran CDC Clinics.
Other Melbourne Options:
- Northside Dermatology Fitzroy North and Reservoir.
- Victorian Dermal Group Melbourne CBD.
- Riversdale Dermatology
- Preston, IN, Inside Out Dermatology.
- St. Skin Melbourne
In selecting a dermatologist, one should always make sure that the Australasian College of Dermatologists confirms their qualifications and consult online reviews from more than three sources.
Patient Educations: Red Flags to Be Wary of
The Dissanayake case is an eye-opener to the fact that even medical professionals may misuse their mandate. Although this case is rare, these are some of the red flags that should be observed:
- Any health care provider who requests you to have an unusual level of personal response in your life beyond medical treatment.
- Demands for monies other than normal medical charges.
- Unacceptable boundary crossing or solicitation.
- Coercion to belong to social or religious groups.
- Any action that causes uneasiness or manipulation to you.
In case of any inappropriate behaviour by a healthcare provider, notify them instantly to:
- Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
- Victoria Police
- Your local support services
The Reddit Community Response and Discussion
Although this particular case of Pradeep Dissanayake has not been actively discussed on the Reddit platform in search results, the case has been widely reported by the Australian media. The revelations have shocked the Victorian community and the rest of the Australian population, especially considering the level of trust placed on medical professionals by the patients.
The issue of continuing research by Victoria into the recruitment techniques of the cults and the damage that these groups inflict upon people and families is also brought to the fore in the case.
Moving Forward: Safety of Yourself and Your Family
The Dissanayake case is closed now that he was convicted and sentenced, but it is a lesson to understand the importance of being vigilant. In case you or someone close to you was a victim of this case, there is a provision of support services through:
- 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) supports the support of family violence.
- Trauma and abuse counselling, Blue Knot Foundation (1300 657 380).
- Helpline Kids helpline (1800 55 1800) for children and the youth.
In matters of skin health, make sure that the registered dermatologists have proven credentials and are not afraid to ask them for a second opinion or switch providers whenever there is no comfort in one thing.
