A Whangarei dental specialist and academic who ripped off a terminally ill dentist has been censured and suspended from practice - although this has itself been suspended - by his professional body.
Alan Graham Thomas Payne, 54, a specialist prosthodontist and former head of department at Otago University's School ofDentistry, pleaded guilty in the Whangarei District Court last year to two charges of using forged documents and one of obtaining money by deception.
The offences took place in Dunedin between August 2007 and November 2009. The case was transferred to Whangarei after he moved to Northland in 2010. He now works for Dent St Dental and Gentle Dental Company in Whangarei.
Dr Payne's fraud involved a total of $9770.61 from Raymond J George Dental Surgeon. Dr George was terminally ill for part of the period he was defrauded and Dr Payne knew of his illness. He was ordered by the court to perform 200 hours' community work and pay $9770.61 in reparation.
In September, Dr Payne went before the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Committee charged with conduct reflecting adversely on his fitness to practice. The charge was proven and in its decision released yesterday Dr Payne was suspended from practice for nine months, with the penalty suspended for 24 months, and ordered to pay a total of $12,000 in costs.
Dr Payne must also work under professional supervision for three years; he cannot practise on his own or own a practice, unless authorised by the Dental Council of NZ and must establish a therapeutic relationship with his GP who must inform the council if Dr Payne's fitness to practice is likely to affect public safety.
Dr Payne cannot undertake any financial transactions with patients or any external dental service provider.
His convictions related to the dishonest use of 132 invoices for his own financial gain and was premeditated, the tribunal said.
"Dr Payne's actions were immoral, unethical and involved significant breaches. Given the very serious breaches of professional standards, discipline is undoubtedly warranted," it said.
Dr Payne submitted that he had suffered immeasurably as a consequence of the convictions and had had a very significant fall from grace. Excellent references were provided for him and the offending was completely out of character.
He could not be contacted for comment by edition time.
