The ABC reports on another medical practitioner who wrote his own qualifications and has now been sentenced by the NT Supreme Court to 14 months in prison.
Singapore national Balaji Varatharaju, 29, was employed as a doctor at the Alice Springs Hospital for nine months. The news report indicates that 'medical staff became suspicious of his lack of clinical knowledge, leading to the discovery that he had forged his medical degree from Adelaide University. Varatharaju had been enrolled in the six year medical degree but was expelled for forging a senior lecturer's signature on a research paper and for attempting to change an E-grade into a B-grade.
Blokland J commented that Varatharaju, who also pleaded guilty to the aggravated assault of a patient during a medical procedure, had breached the trust of patients and the medical board with a deception that required "some significant confidence and audacity". "The breach of faith with the Alice Springs Hospital and the medical board are of a high order given the deplorable consequences that can flow from such deception."
Varatharaju's lawyer told the court that the bogus doctor's motivation was to help people, rather than money. Of course he is remorseful for his actions.
We might want to enhance our vetting of medical practitioners.
