SOCIAL SECURITY FRAUD

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26265, 9 November 1950, Page 11

SOCIAL SECURITY FRAUD

FALSE CLAIMS MADE BY DENTIST

IMPRISONMENT FOR THREE MONTHS

John Joseph Ardagh, a dental surgeon, of Cashel street, plesded guilty ’• the Magistrate’s Court yesterday to a charge that, between May 19, 1946, and ,^V De 25, 1950, for the purpose of obtaining £ 175 3s irom the Social Security Fund, be misled an officer of the Social Security Department by representing that he had carried out t?* treatment to that value for children enrolled as his patients. He also pleaded guilty to six charges of making a false statement to an officer of the Social Security Department that he had given dental treatment to children named. Mr Rex C. Abernethy, S.M„ sentenced Ardagh to three months’ imprisonment on the first charge and one month’s imprisonment on each of the other six charges, all the sentences to be concurrent—a total of tnree months in prison. Mr A. W. Brown prosecuted on behalf of the Medical Officer of Health. Mr. C S. Thomas appeared for Ardagh.

‘I have been gravely concerned to know what is the proper thing to do. 1 ®.m gravely concerned in any case which involves imprisonment, but mope so in the case of a man of your position and your knowledge,” said the Magistrate, in sentencing Ardagh. ‘You have taken this money fraudulently, not in one or two instances, but in many instances, with a full knowledge of what you were doing. On top of that you have ruined the moyths pf children, and what that means you, as a dentist, must suspect. Having regard to your age, I seriously considered whether I should not inflict a term of imprisonment. In view of the seriousness of the offences I am ynable to escape it. I regret that is the position.” Case Outlined '*! regret to say that the facts show a grave state of affairs, and are greatly to the discredit of Ardagh, whose ethical standards, as a professional man, should have been of the highest. They show a systematic course of defrauding the Social Security Department and grave neglect of the children’s teeth,” said Mr Brown. On August 16, a dental officer of the Health Department examined the teeth of 15 children, and that resulted in the prosecutions being brought. Ardagh had been in practice in Christchurch for a number of years, and he had enrolled, as patients under the Social Security Act, a fairly large number of children. They were of various ages. Some were 10, some were younger, and some were in their early teens, continued Mr Brown. Apparently, they attended Ardagh’s surgery regularly, and he allegedly did certain work on their teeth, and sent into the department charts showing what work he claimed to have done. On the examination by the dental officer it was found that only a tiny portion of that‘work had been done.

‘‘Owing to Ardagh’s neglect, the children s mouths were in a shocking state, and many of their teeth had to be extracted. In one case, that of a girl in her teens, no fewer than 14 teeth had to be extracted,” said M r Brown. Beverley Ann Qrossan, now aged 15|. was enrolled by Ardagh in 1947, and he had made six claims, totalling £2l 0s 6d, for work on her teeth, but all the work he had actually done was worth less than £4, said Mr Brown. Seven of her teeth had to be extracted. Ardagh had alleged that he did 21 fillings, but actually there were only two. There were 17 cayjties in her teeth, all requiring urgent attention. He had qlso claimed for root fillings which had not been done, and he had also claimed for X-raying the girl’s teeth, though he could not produce any films and did not own an X-ray plant. Marie Priscilla Hanrahan was enrolled in April, 1948, and Ardagh made five claims, totalling £33 Ils, for work done on her teeth, said Mr Brown. One of the claims was for £l6 18s 6d. Actually, nd was paid £27 18s 6d for work* he had not done. He charged for 37 fillings but only one could be found and there were 10 cavities in the girl’s teeth. Mary Sheed was enrolled in April. 1947. and Ardagh made seven claims, totalling £2O 4s, for work done but the actual work was worth £8 2s. He also claimed for 24 fillings but there were only three in the child’s mouth, apart from missing teeth. Fortunately, there was only one cavity, Kevin Gordon Wilson was enrolled in March, 1949. and Ardagh made four claims for a total of £l9 2s. said Mr Brown. He alleged that he had done 22 fillings but only- two could be found. There were four cavities in the boy’s teeth. Ardagh was overpaid £l2 13s 6d in this case. Frederick Ronald Woodham was enrolled in April, 1947, and Ardagh made four claims, totalling £lB 6s, but the only treatment given was worth £5. Claims were made for 24 fillings but only five could be found and there were six bad cavities in the boy’s teeth.

Raymond Thistoll was enrolled in December. 1948, and Ardagh made five claims, totalling £2l 16s. He claimed for 21 fillings but only seven were found and there were no fewer than 16 cavities in the boy’s teeth. Ardagh was overpaid £l5 10s 6d in this instance.

Others showed a similar state of affairs but not to the same extent, said Mr Brown., The state of neglect of the children’s mouths was simply shocking. It was astonishing that Ardagh should haye made these claims when he must have known he would be found out. “There are dozens of these false claims oyer about three years. All are second teeth and in many cases the children’s mouths have been ruined,” said Mr Brown in reply to the Magistrate. “It can be said in his favour that he has not denied the facts from the first moment he was taxed with them.” “No Excuse” Mr Thomas said he could offer no excuse whatever for Ardagh’s actions. They were very difficult to understand, for‘foey were just as silly as they were inexcusable. It was so obvious that Ardagh had to be discovered. It was • beyond belief that a man of Ardagh’s standing should do such a thing. There had been much tragic ill heajth in his family and that might have warped his moral character. Ardagh was about 65 and he had never before been in trouble. He could only throw himself on, the merey of the Court. The publicity would be a very real punishment, and probably greater than the Court could inflict. Further, there would be the disastrous effect on Ardagh’s practice.

The Magistrate adjourned the Court to consider his decision and then passed sentence.