Qld: British doctor banned from practising again in Queensland

AAP General News (Australia)
08-28-2008
Qld: British doctor banned from practising again in Queensland

By Christine Flatley

BRISBANE, Aug 28 AAP - A doctor found guilty of professional misconduct while working
in England has lost an appeal to re-register in Queensland.

The Health Practitioners Tribunal today ruled the Medical Board of Queensland acted
properly in cancelling John Harding-Price's registration after he was banned from working
in Britain in 2001.

Dr Harding-Price, a psychiatrist from Lincoln in England's north, was banned following
an investigation by the UK General Medical Council (GMC) into complaints made by three
of his female patients.

The GMC found Dr Harding-Price had engaged in "serious professional misconduct", including
failing to properly communicate with patients during examinations and neglecting to respect
patient privacy.

As a result of the GMC's decision, Dr Harding-Price was struck off the register in Queensland.

The doctor flew from the United Kingdom to Brisbane last month to appeal for the reinstatement
of his registration.

Representing himself, he argued the GMC had relied on hearsay evidence and that the
Medical Board of Queensland should have held its own inquiry before striking him off the
register.

However, Ron Ashton, who appeared on behalf of the medical board, argued it was legally
entitled to rely on the GMC's judgment.

The Health Practitioners Tribunal today upheld that argument.

In a written judgment the tribunal members ruled that the public's confidence in the
medical profession in Queensland could be impaired if Dr Harding-Price's registration
was reinstated.

"Were he allowed to continue to practise in Queensland, standards could appear inconsistent
and variable and less than those applying in a foreign jurisdiction with generally similar
standards of practice," the judgment stated.

"In the circumstances of the present case, public confidence and the maintenance of
standards supports the formation of a belief that a similar decision be reached here as
was reached in the UK."

AAP cf/pjo/ldj/bwl

KEYWORD: HARDINGPRICE

2008 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.