BOGUS MEDICAL CERTIFICATE

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 195, 15 May 1941, Page 5

BOGUS MEDICAL CERTIFICATE

Young Woman Before

Court

“All the Department of Health was concerned with was to get accused under treatment as soon as possible and cured,” said the medical officer of health for the central Wellingtou district, Dr. F. S. Macleau, giving evidence before Mr. Stout, S.M., in the Magistrates’ Court, Wellington, yesterday morning, when a young single woman whose name was ordered to be suppressed, was charged with falsely representing a medical certificate to be signed by a “Dr. G. Gray.” After the hearing of evidence, she pleaded guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court, for sentence. Bail was allowed.

Dr. Maclean said that the DirectorGeueral of Health had received information which led to the belief that accused was suffering from a social disease. Notices were sent calling on her to undergo a medical examination and to produce a certificate from a doctor stating that she was not suffering from the disease in a communicable form. She ignored these notices and was then interviewed, being informed that under the provisions of the Health Act she could be sent to hospital, by force if necessary, unless the medical certificate was forthcoming. The Director-General of Health later received through the post a typed certificate, purporting to be signed by a “Dr. G. Gray,” but which was not regarded by the department as genuine. Inquiries revealed that no doctor by that name could be found.

Detective-Sergeant Murray said in evidence that accused, when questioned by the police, admitted having typed the certificate herself and writing “Dr. G. Gray” at the foot. She told witness that she had done this because she was nervous and frightened, and witness believed that she was speaking the truth.