Doctor pays $65,000 for misconduct

The Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal has found an Auckland doctor guilty of misconduct and ordered him to pay costs of $65,000.

In a report released today, the tribunal found Doctor Christopher Bevan Paltridge prescribed hormone treatment to menopausal women without talking to or examining them.

Instead a nurse would carry out the duties.

In some cases it had led to women being prescribed the wrong hormones.

Dr Paltridge said he had not had time to consult with every patient, but accepted he should have and that was now his normal practice.

He said it was "a poor decision" and a "big mistake" to operate that way.

The tribunal also found he prescribed hormones without verifying a patient's family and medical history through contact with their GP, a full history and examination or viewing test results.

The tribunal said menopause treatment was not an expertise of Dr Paltridge and he should have sought mentoring.

Patients were reportedly happy with their treatment, but that "does not absolve the practitioner from his professional responsibility to ensure that the practise were safe and appropriate", the tribunal said.

There was "a significant degree of incompetence" in Dr Paltridge's behaviour, which warranted discipline.

It also said he must learn more about hormone therapy for menopause through education and clinic visits.

The Medical Council of New Zealand was carrying out an competence investigation on Dr Paltridge and would monitor him, therefore the tribunal did not feel the need to impose conditions to address its concerns about how he prescribed hormones.

The tribunal said the focus should be on rehabilitation as Dr Paltridge had taken steps to improve his practise and seek help and guidance from other doctors.

The tribunal also found Dr Paltridge falsely claimed in advertisement his clinic, the New Zealand Men's Clinic, had a 95 per cent success rate in treating erectile disfunction.

The tribunal found him guilty of misconduct, censured him, ordered him to pay costs of $65,000.

But did not impose a fine.

"Dr Paltridge has shown insight in the course of the hearing of the charge; he has acknowledged his shortfalls and is well motivated to achieving change."

Two years ago Health and Disability Commissioner Ron Paterson ordered Dr Paltridge apologise for treating four men seeking treatment for erectile disfunction at his clinic as customers rather than patients.

Mr Paterson found he had not properly examined three of the men and failed to discuss things with the fourth.

He also ordered Dr Paltridge to review his practice and patient treatment guidelines.

- NZPA