AIMGAcondemns dodgydoctor

Indian-origin medical communitycomes outstronglyagainst fake doctor

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The Australian IndianMedical GraduatesAs . sociation (AIMGA) hascondemned tbe actionsof anIndian-originman,vhowas caughtmasquerading asadoctor inNS\\7.

Theassociationsaid inarelease,"W/eat AllVfGA are disturbed andconcernedabout therecent news ofa personwho wirb an allegedlystolenidentitymanaged to enter J\ustral.iaandwithfalse documentation acquired medical.registrationand went on to workfraudulentlyasaJunior Medical Doctor in the hospital system in t SWover aperiod of 11 years."

AThfGAPresident Dr SunilVyas told IndianLinkthe actionsof tbe manindirectly taints Indiandoctorsas wellas rl1e Indian community.

"Posing as adoctor is onething, but activelypractisingas one andperforming invasive procedurescould well be physical assault,"hesaid. "This personprovided opinionthatpatients relied upon,andthus put them atrisk."

However Dr Vyas admittedthe case was notcommon.

"What'sreassuringis chatJ\PHRA (AustralianHealth Practitioner Regulation Agency) is verystringentinassessing and grantingofregistrationstanisboth tolocallyandoverseas trainedmedical practitioners."

"\'(/e have noinformationof whether this manbadmedicalbackgroundof anysort," Dr Vyas said. "lewas onlyinthe last three years apparentlyrbat his actions became suspicious."

The conartist Shyam Acharya, whostole the identityofUK-basedrbeumatologist Dr SarangChi.tale,has since beenlocated inlndiaandfaces a$30,000hne uponhis return.The lSW Health Minister Brad Hazz.ard has announced aninquiryandsaid he wants to seize Acharya's $1.5million North Ryde home.

Cardiologist Dr YaduSingh, acommentator onIndian community affairs inhisrole asPresidenrof the Federarionof IndianAssociationsof NSW (FIAN),said the punishment should be more stringent. "Norjust fines, ajail termshouldalsobe givento fake doctors,"he declaredina mediarelease.

"Iris notfor us todecide puoishmenr," DrVyas said. "It is uptorhe legalsystem todothat. Burwe stronglysupportthe Minister forHealthandtheregulatory authoritiesatbothstate and national levels in their effortsroinvestigate rl1is matter so thatsuch incidentsdo notoccur in future and tomaximise their effortsiobringing rl1e alleged miscreantto face justice."

Headded.,'1nd.ianoriginmedical practitioners have along bisroryof honourable and ethicalservice notjustin Australiaburalsow0rldwide."

Doctorsmustsurelybe one ofIndia's largest exports, adoctor at arecentAIMGA event declared. ("Nocityis complete without aChinatown and Indiandoctors," he joked.)

"Itis interestiog tonorerbesecondcase that ernerged recentlyof afakedoctor inMelbourne practisingunregistered ata cosmeticclinic," DrVyas observed. "The clinicwillbe liable there, but this man faked his documentsto getregistrationandso his crime is alot more significant."

Rajni Anand Luthra