Doctor defrauded fund

Press, 27 January 1979, Page 7

Doctor defrauded fund

A former Mataura doctor has been disciplined by the New ealand Medical Association for professional misconduct by defrauding the Social Welfare Fund.

After a complaint by the Minister of Health, Dr D. C. Freeman was found guilty of failing to keep a daily record in respect of every patient as required by law; giving . insufficient and unsatisfactory statements to substantiate general medical services claims; defrauding the Social Welfare Fund by making improper claims for general medical services, knowing that the claims were improper, and

knowing that the services were payable by the fund; and professional misconduct. The findings, of the committee were published in the “New Zealand Medical Journal.” On the professional misconduct finding. Dr Freeman was fined $2OO by the Medical Association and ordered to pay $1569 toward the cost of the inuqiry. He was also strongly advised to work in a salried or partnership practice, where the administrative side of medical practice was outside his control and responsibility. The committee made

several recommendations to the Minister, including one that would give the Medical Officer of Health the authority to recover $l5B from Dr Freeman for 126 services to freezing works patients. The committee recommended that discussions be held with Dr Freeman to determine what amount should be repaid and that Dr Freeman’s offer to repay improper claims be accepted. The complaint was made under Section 45 of the Medical Practioners Act, 1968, and alleged breaches of three regulations.