Bigger fines for doctors sought

Press, 29 September 1979, Page 22

Bigger fines for doctors sought

PA Wellington! The Medical Practitioners’ I Disciplinary Committee, in presenting submissions to the Parliamentary Select! Committee on Social Ser-1 vices, has recommended thatil the fine for repeated professional misconduct by a gen-, erai oractitioner be raised to! SI 000. As the law stands, the committee can impose a fine of $2OO on a doctor found guHty of misconduct. If the same doctor is found guilty on a second charge, the penalty is the same. The committe’ said that was no de- 1 terrent. In its submissions the ! committee said it received

I many complaints each year of misconduct by medical practitioners. These had inI creased since the Accident Compensation Act was! .passed because patients with! I a grievance did not have the) opportunity to air their com-1 pla'nts in court. The committee said that it shouldered the main burden 'of discipline in the medical profession and could receive only complaints of misconduct. The committee be-.lievni-i tii a t its -ooiona' rl ' < j ciplinarv committees should be given the power to in-1 qu ; re full)' into less serious ■ matters such as unethical behaviour. It said it was essential; that it have the power toi impose conditions on a doctor’s right to practise as part of its general sanction. “In this way the profession can oe more appropriately disciplined and the public protected in a rather more effective way.” the committee’s submissions said.