Hamilton's 'free GP' struck off

Suresh Vatsyayann. Photo / Bay of Plenty Times

A Hamilton doctor has been struck off and handed the biggest costs bill on record after enrolling patients without their knowledge.

Suresh Vatsyayann also faced multiple breaches including allowing his wife to carry out smear tests, remove intra-uterine devices and vaccinate children, when she was unqualified to do so.

The Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal has ruled his conduct amounted to negligence, and brought discredit to the profession.

Dr Vatsyayann has been on a hunger strike since the ruling.

He has been struck off the register and ordered to pay costs of $256,000.

The professional misconduct finding is the tribunal's second against Dr Vatsyayann.

The first was in 2008, for producing false and misleading clinical notes. He was fined, censured and ordered to pay part of the prosecution costs.

Dr Vatsyayann became known as the "free GP" because he treated patients without charge.

He enrolled 45 patients without their knowledge from 2005 to 2007 - included four dead people.

- Newstalk ZB, NZ Herald staff