Disgraced doctor faces new charge

Dr Vatsyayann will defend himself during three days of disciplinary proceedings. Photo / Bay of Plenty Times

Disgraced doctor Suresh Vatsyayann faces a new diagnosis charge next week as he starts the second month of a hunger strike he says will be a "fast unto death".

Supporters of the Hamilton GP, removed from the register of medical practitioners last month following an earlier case, say he is frail and has lost 15kg.

But he will defend himself during three days of disciplinary proceedings starting on Monday against an alleged misdiagnosis of a woman dying of bowel cancer.

The Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal in March found Dr Vatsyayann guilty of professional misconduct over the falsifying of records, breach of patient privacy and allowing an unqualified person to do health work such as giving vaccinations and taking cervical smears.

Dr Vatsyayann enrolled 45 patients at his practice without their knowledge. They included four dead people.

The Waikato District Health Board recovered about $150,000 from a possible $350,000 paid for patients who should not have been enrolled because there were no signed enrolment forms.

The doctor denied the allegations and said the false enrolments were made because of computer issues and through human error.

He was struck off the medical register and ordered to pay $256,000 in tribunal and prosecution costs.

The case starting on Monday arises from a Health and Disability Commissioner investigation which found Dr Vatsyayann breached the code of patients' rights for failing to make the proper investigations with a patient aged 66 at the time.

She was diagnosed with iron deficiency anaemia and gastritis. Another GP later arranged tests which revealed tumours in her large intestine and liver.