DOCTOR FOUND NOT GUILTY

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27035, 9 May 1953, Page 8

DOCTOR FOUND NOT GUILTY

Alleged Abuses Of Social Security ACQUITTAL ON ALL 16 CHARGES (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, May 8. Dr. Dorothy Cochran Logan, aged 60, a medical practitioner, of Whitianga, was found not guilty by a jury in the Supreme Court at Auckland tonight on all of 16 charges against her of making false statements to obtain unauthorised payments from the Social Security Fund. The trial began before Mr Justice Adams on Tuesday. The accused was represented by Mr L. P. Leary, Q.C., with him Mr Harris. The prosecution was conducted by Mr Rosen. His Honour discharged the accused. Yesterday, the accused gave evidence in her own defence. Today she was cross-examined by Mr Rosen. She said that she was not a member of the New Zealand branch of the British Medical Association, but she was a member of the London branch. James Alexander Mackay gave evidence that he received attention to his eyes, teeth, and a leg from Dr. Logan at his son’s house, Irene Elizabeth Scott, a married woman, of Otahuhu, said that when she was at a holiday camp at Whitianga on February 9. 1952, some people there wanted to go fishing, but the sea was very rough. They asked Dr. Logan for a prescription to counter sea sickness, and Dr, Logan prescribed for them. Addressing the jury, Mr Leary said he agreed that the Health Department had to be careful in the administration of its funds, “but in a busy country practice, run by an old person by herself, mistakes can creep in."

“If the department had been a little more frank with my client, I suggest you would not have had to decide on this case,” said counsel. “She might have been reprimanded, but there is a great doubt whether there would have been a prosecution.” “Indifferent to Money Matters” Holding up a handful of forms from a cardboard box half-filled with them, Mr Leary saiH: “Remember this: though she may have been, as you might say, careless, in her own affairs, we have here a box that speaks eloquently that she is more br less indifferent to money matters.” Every one of the slips of paper was worth 7s 6d to Dr. Logan, yet she had never sent them in to the department, said Mr Leary. “The State has been saved all that expense,” counsel said. “She just did not worry. She has told you of many, many visits she did not claim for. In the face of that, would you reasonably suggest that she would be mean enough to make a false claim?” Summing up, his Honour said that the accused should not be found guilty of making false statements unless the jury was satisfied that, when she made them, she knew them to be , false. If, for instance, she made a genuine mistake, charged for a wrong name, or made a charge for a service which had not been rendered, but which she thought had been rendered, that would be a good defence.