Abstract
The membership of two Fellows of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists who were found to have engaged in unprofessional conduct was terminated by the General Council at its meeting in Christchurch in May.
The action was taken against Dr John Robert Pettiford and Dr Alfred Harold Leitmanis, both of Melbourne.
It followed determinations by the Medical Practitioners Board of Victoria, which found that both doctors had engaged in unprofessional conduct of a serious nature.
The allegations against Dr Pettiford involved two female patients.
He was alleged to have engaged in a sexual relationship, engaged in physical contact of a sexual nature that was unnecessary for treatment, and with having failed to maintain appropriate boundaries.
A medical board panel cancelled Dr Pettiford's medical registration.
It said it was adamant that a sexual relationship between a psychiatrist and a patient was never acceptable, and constituted unprofessional conduct.
Dr Pettiford subsequently applied to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) for a review of the board's finding.
However, VCAT upheld the board's decision.
The allegations against Dr Leitmanis involved a woman patient who had been consulting him for several months.
He was alleged to have engaged in conduct which compromised the professional boundaries of the treating relationship and with having failed to ensure that proper professional boundaries were maintained and/or having failed to transfer the patient to the care of another psychiatrist when the possibility that the patient was becoming sexually, romantically or emotionally attracted became apparent.
A medical board panel cancelled Dr Leitmanis’ medical registration from 16 January 2004 and disqualified him from applying for registration for two years.
It also determined that he be reprimanded.
A Fellow who pleaded guilty in the Melbourne Magistrates Court in June 2001 to eight counts of making false or misleading statements in connection with a claim for a Medicare benefit or payment was also found to have engaged in unprofessional conduct of a serious nature.
A medical board panel determined that Dr William Henry Orchard, of Melbourne be cautioned.
The panel noted that the magistrate did not record a conviction.
Dr Orchard was released on a 12-month good behaviour bond and ordered to make a contribution to the court fund and repay the Health Insurance Commission.
Sources:
Medical Practitioners Board of Victoria website.
Medical Practitioners Board of Victoria Bulletin Volume 1, March 2003 page 8, Volume 4, December 2003 page 42, Volume 2, June 2004 page 16, and Volume 1, March 2004 pages 6–7.