http://www.smh.com.au/national/board-knew-of-surgeons-troubled-past-20100128-n1s3.html
Board knew of surgeon's troubled past January 29, 2010 .
Patients have no way of knowing if their doctor has a drug problem or has been disciplined over it, writes Natasha Wallace.
THE NSW Medical Board knew that a doctor facing serious drug supply charges in relation to the death of a woman in his apartment last year had a ''severe'' addiction to cocaine as far back as 2004.
The Herald can reveal that Dr Suresh Surendranath Nair was ordered by the board in April 2004 to undergo mandatory urine testing three times a week while working at Nepean Hospital.
Four months later, he tested positive for cocaine and was suspended for about six weeks due to concerns about public safety.
The board's 2005 annual report said a doctor, who the Herald understands is Dr Nair, "had a severe impairment in the form of cocaine abuse/dependency". It was "considered that the practitioner must be suspended for the safety of the public until his rehabilitation was further progressed'', it said.
He was allowed to return to work in October 2004, with stricter conditions placed upon his registration, including that he only work in a hospital position approved by the board. He was already not permitted to work more than 30 hours a week and had been subjected to health monitoring.
The Herald can also reveal, however, that Nepean Hospital suspended him from duty after a complaint about his clinical practice was referred to the medical board in August 2008, which by that time had "gradually eased" his conditions, a board spokeswoman said yesterday.
The complaint is still under investigation by the Health Care Complaints Commission.
Dr Nair has had other serious complaints against him, including the botched spinal operation of a 60-year-old woman, Helen Kerner, in 2006, in which the Sydney West Area Health Service has admitted a breach of duty of care.
However, Nepean Hospital still re-employed Dr Nair last year under supervision after the medical board again imposed restrictions on his registration from January but allowed him to continue working.
Yesterday, the board denied any knowledge of the suspected fatal drug overdose of yet another young woman, Victoria McIntyre, in the neurosurgeon's Elizabeth Bay apartment in February last year - nine months before a Brazilian woman, Suellen Domingues Zaupa, 22, died in similar circumstances.
Dr Nair is in custody on drug charges after Ms Zaupa was found dead from a suspected overdose in his $1.7 million apartment in November.
''The board was not advised of the death of a woman in Dr Nair's apartment in February 2009, until November 25, 2009 [when he was arrested]. The board held a Section 66 [urgent hearing] on November 26 and suspended him immediately,'' a spokeswoman said. Dr Nair had a professional obligation to tell the board of Ms McIntyre's death but was not legally required to do so, she said.
Patients have no way of knowing when a doctor has been suspended for substance abuse, or what restrictions have been imposed upon them as a result, as the board is not legally permitted to make such information public.
Nepean was unable to confirm exactly when he was re-employed in 2009 but he was still working for the hospital when he was arrested.
The medical board spokeswoman confirmed that the Malaysian-born, Australian-trained neurosurgeon had ''breached one of his health conditions'' in August 2004 and was suspended after an urgent hearing.
''With agreement of the Health Care Complaints Commission, the matter was referred to an Impaired Registrants Panel, which was held in October, 2004,'' she said.
''Dr Nair was allowed to return to work with amended practice conditions and that's where he had to work in a hospital position approved by the board and the same health conditions on his registration.
''He continued to be monitored by the board. Over time, the conditions were gradually eased consistent with the usual practice when practitioners are compliant over time with their registration conditions.''
Associate Professor Michael Fearnside, who retired from the position of deputy president of the board and chairman of its conduct unit in September, also told the Herald the board was not aware of the death of Ms McIntyre. ''To the best of my knowledge he didn't report that to the medical board and I certainly have no recollection of that ever being notified,'' he said.
Dr Fearnside was the former director of surgery for Sydney West Area Health Service, which is responsible for Nepean Hospital, but said he had no involvement in Dr Nair's matter. ''I've never presided over the Nair case. On the occasions that he came before the conduct committee I declared a conflict of interest and left the room and didn't participate in the case,'' he said.
The Sydney West Area Health Service would not say yesterday how many cases it was reviewing that involved Dr Nair at Nepean Public Hospital. A spokeswoman said the service ''will arrange for independent clinical experts to review any individual treatment concerns that may be identified. If a concern is raised or identified by any review, SWAHS will discuss these directly with patients and their families if appropriate.''
http://www.smh.com.au/national/students-called-nair-sex-rash-20100128-n1s5.html
This doctor will milk Geylang dry... hehe.... FT indeed!
:oIo: :oIo:
Board knew of surgeon's troubled past January 29, 2010 .
Patients have no way of knowing if their doctor has a drug problem or has been disciplined over it, writes Natasha Wallace.
THE NSW Medical Board knew that a doctor facing serious drug supply charges in relation to the death of a woman in his apartment last year had a ''severe'' addiction to cocaine as far back as 2004.
The Herald can reveal that Dr Suresh Surendranath Nair was ordered by the board in April 2004 to undergo mandatory urine testing three times a week while working at Nepean Hospital.
Four months later, he tested positive for cocaine and was suspended for about six weeks due to concerns about public safety.
The board's 2005 annual report said a doctor, who the Herald understands is Dr Nair, "had a severe impairment in the form of cocaine abuse/dependency". It was "considered that the practitioner must be suspended for the safety of the public until his rehabilitation was further progressed'', it said.
He was allowed to return to work in October 2004, with stricter conditions placed upon his registration, including that he only work in a hospital position approved by the board. He was already not permitted to work more than 30 hours a week and had been subjected to health monitoring.
The Herald can also reveal, however, that Nepean Hospital suspended him from duty after a complaint about his clinical practice was referred to the medical board in August 2008, which by that time had "gradually eased" his conditions, a board spokeswoman said yesterday.
The complaint is still under investigation by the Health Care Complaints Commission.
Dr Nair has had other serious complaints against him, including the botched spinal operation of a 60-year-old woman, Helen Kerner, in 2006, in which the Sydney West Area Health Service has admitted a breach of duty of care.
However, Nepean Hospital still re-employed Dr Nair last year under supervision after the medical board again imposed restrictions on his registration from January but allowed him to continue working.
Yesterday, the board denied any knowledge of the suspected fatal drug overdose of yet another young woman, Victoria McIntyre, in the neurosurgeon's Elizabeth Bay apartment in February last year - nine months before a Brazilian woman, Suellen Domingues Zaupa, 22, died in similar circumstances.
Dr Nair is in custody on drug charges after Ms Zaupa was found dead from a suspected overdose in his $1.7 million apartment in November.
''The board was not advised of the death of a woman in Dr Nair's apartment in February 2009, until November 25, 2009 [when he was arrested]. The board held a Section 66 [urgent hearing] on November 26 and suspended him immediately,'' a spokeswoman said. Dr Nair had a professional obligation to tell the board of Ms McIntyre's death but was not legally required to do so, she said.
Patients have no way of knowing when a doctor has been suspended for substance abuse, or what restrictions have been imposed upon them as a result, as the board is not legally permitted to make such information public.
Nepean was unable to confirm exactly when he was re-employed in 2009 but he was still working for the hospital when he was arrested.
The medical board spokeswoman confirmed that the Malaysian-born, Australian-trained neurosurgeon had ''breached one of his health conditions'' in August 2004 and was suspended after an urgent hearing.
''With agreement of the Health Care Complaints Commission, the matter was referred to an Impaired Registrants Panel, which was held in October, 2004,'' she said.
''Dr Nair was allowed to return to work with amended practice conditions and that's where he had to work in a hospital position approved by the board and the same health conditions on his registration.
''He continued to be monitored by the board. Over time, the conditions were gradually eased consistent with the usual practice when practitioners are compliant over time with their registration conditions.''
Associate Professor Michael Fearnside, who retired from the position of deputy president of the board and chairman of its conduct unit in September, also told the Herald the board was not aware of the death of Ms McIntyre. ''To the best of my knowledge he didn't report that to the medical board and I certainly have no recollection of that ever being notified,'' he said.
Dr Fearnside was the former director of surgery for Sydney West Area Health Service, which is responsible for Nepean Hospital, but said he had no involvement in Dr Nair's matter. ''I've never presided over the Nair case. On the occasions that he came before the conduct committee I declared a conflict of interest and left the room and didn't participate in the case,'' he said.
The Sydney West Area Health Service would not say yesterday how many cases it was reviewing that involved Dr Nair at Nepean Public Hospital. A spokeswoman said the service ''will arrange for independent clinical experts to review any individual treatment concerns that may be identified. If a concern is raised or identified by any review, SWAHS will discuss these directly with patients and their families if appropriate.''
http://www.smh.com.au/national/students-called-nair-sex-rash-20100128-n1s5.html
This doctor will milk Geylang dry... hehe.... FT indeed!
:oIo: :oIo:
