Doctor sent for trial in con case

Hongsheng Kong. Photo / Martin Sykes

An Auckland doctor who is accused of falsifying patient records to obtain more than $1.3 million has been ordered to stand trial.

Yesterday, at the end of a depositions hearing that lasted all week, the lawyer for Panmure GP Hongsheng Kong conceded there was a case for his client to answer.

Kong allegedly manipulated his patient files to obtain extra money from government subsidies but he has pleaded not guilty to a total of 24 charges and says he will defend them at trial.

A project manager at AuckPac primary health organisation, Karen Neremia, told the Auckland District Court of a meeting between the organisation and clinic owners that Kong attended on October 3, 2006.

"I vaguely remember deceased patients on registers coming up and in particular one patient at a clinic who was 150 years old."

Ms Neremia said she wasn't sure about the discussion around duplication of patients on the registers.

"I also don't have any recall regarding any discussion around 'redundant' patients."

She remembered the doctors getting hard-copy lists of patients.

"In comparison with the other doctors I recall that Dr Kong was handed a very large file. Everyone in the room laughed at the size of Dr Kong's list and I looked at him to see if there was any reaction."

His only response was to smile as he looked at the list, she said.

In cross-examination, Kong's lawyer, Paul Davison, QC, said it seemed clear there was some confusion over patients who were registered and those who were casual.

"It was a problem area, wasn't it?" Mr Davison said. Ms Neremia agreed it was. She also agreed there was some uncertainty over the significance of registered and enrolled patients.

Mr Davison asked if the form given to GPs that was headed, "Patient register", could have contributed to the misunderstandings. She replied that it could have.

Kong was remanded on bail until May 12.