By MARTIN JOHNSTON health reporter
Former New Zealand beauty doctor Warren Chan has been suspended for three years, but he has again escaped being struck off the medical register.
In a decision made public yesterday, the Medical Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal suspended Dr Chan, fined him $15,000 and ordered him to pay costs
of $73,412.
If he resumes practising after the suspension, special conditions will apply for a further three years. A fully qualified anaesthetist will have to be present when Dr Chan operates and he will have to receive Medical Council-directed training on consent, and patient and practice management.
The penalties arise from nine charges relating to eight patients, who complained about breast surgery, nose jobs and liposuction.
Dr Chan was not at the tribunal hearing last June, is thought to be overseas and could not be reached yesterday. He has denied the charges and declared he will never again practise medicine in New Zealand. The Medical Council removed his name from the register last year at his request.
Dr Chan had previously been found guilty of professional misconduct four times and another decision remains secret.
At the hearing, prosecutor Kate Davenport alleged the patients' outcomes, consent procedures, anaesthesia and post-operative management were inadequate. The committee levelled six charges of disgraceful conduct, one of professional misconduct and two of unbecoming conduct.
But the tribunal dismissed or reduced the disgraceful conduct charges, leaving it unable to strike Dr Chan off the register.
Christchurch patient Lisa Clements, 30, who was dissatisfied with Dr Chan's breast augmentation surgery, said the penalty should have been tougher.
"He shouldn't be able to practise," she said. "The guy owes me $6500 [following a Disputes Tribunal ruling] and I'll never see that. He's got off scot-free."
