A doctor has been ordered to pay $35,000 after engaging in acts related to a 15-year-old that were "likely to bring discredit to the medical profession" and prescribing her contraceptives without a practising certificate.
Dr Christopher John Heron, an Auckland doctor, was charged by the Medical Council of New Zealand with engaging in acts with a teenager that were likely to bring discredit to the medical profession, for prescribing the girl with oral contraceptives" in circumstances amounting to malpractice or negligence", and for writing prescriptions without a practising certificate.
Dr Heron admitted the charges of prescribing contraceptives and writing prescriptions without a certificate but defended the charge of engaging in acts with the 15-year-old.
The New Zealand Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal accepted all three charges, calling Dr Heron's behaviour "significantly inappropriate".
He was fined $5,000 and ordered to pay an additional $30,000 for Tribunal costs.