Doctor guilty of professional misconduct

An Auckland doctor has been found guilty of professional misconduct for working without a current practising certificate and for forging a certificate which he presented to clients.

Ratilal Magan Ranchhod, who provided medical services to several resthomes, Auckland Prison, and the police through his business Housecall, failed to have his practising certificate renewed when it expired in December 2008.

In findings released today, the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal said that questions were first raised about Dr Ranchhod's competency after a letter was sent by the Health and Disability Commissioner to the Medical Council.

The commission said Dr Ranchhod had been the subject of 11 complaints and suggested an investigation was required.

The Medical Council assessed Dr Ranchhod in April 2007 and ruled that his skills "were not performing at an acceptable level for a doctor working in general practice".

It recommended that Dr Ranchhod undertake retraining, with particular emphasis on communications skills. He was required to pass and sit the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners' Primex exam to prove his competency.

As more complaints came in about Dr Ranchhod, the council met in January 2008 and agreed that he "posed a risk of serious harm to the public" if he continued to practise. In December 2008, Dr Ranchhod sat the exam, passing the written test but failing the clinical exam.

The Medical Council decided not to reissue his practising certificate when it came up for renewal that month.

Dr Ranchhod then continued to practise despite being warned not to.

The tribunal was told he also altered the dates on his expired practising certificate and sent a copy to one of his clients, St Andrews Village Resthome in Glendowie.

When questioned by the tribunal about his forging of the practising certificate, Dr Ranchhod said it was unacceptable but he thought it would provide him with enough time to allow the Medical Council to reissue a legitimate certificate.

The tribunal said the forgery was a "very serious matter" and it found him guilty of professional misconduct.

Dr Ranchhod was censured, fined $7500 and ordered to pay $20,000 costs. He was also suspended from practice for two months.

Strict conditions have been imposed on his return to practice, including that he cannot practise alone for three years, and that he must not undertake police, forensic or prison work.

- NZPA