Vic: Authorities examine report on surgeon's conduct and billing

AAP General News (Australia)
04-07-2008
Vic: Authorities examine report on surgeon's conduct and billing

By Kellee Nolan

MELBOURNE, April 7 AAP - A top Victorian hospital and the state government are examining
allegations of improper surgical and billing practices by a leading surgeon.

A report, received by the The Alfred Hospital on March 27 and by the government last
Thursday, investigated the conduct of the hospital's trauma centre head, Professor Thomas
Kossmann.

The Alfred ordered the review late last year after concerns were raised publicly about
whether Prof Kossmann's treatment of patients was excessive, and whether his billing practices
with state authorities such as the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) were appropriate.

The allegations caused the TAC to review its billing processes for public hospitals,
TAC spokeswoman Georgina Lyell said today.

That review is yet to be completed.

The Alfred's review of Prof Kossmann's conduct was led by former head of orthopedics
at the Royal Children's Hospital, Robert Dickens.

While it is yet to be released publicly, a newspaper (EDS: The Australian) today stated
the report's findings on Prof Kossmann were "scathing", including that he performed unnecessary
surgery, and surgery he was incapable of doing.

It also reported findings that Prof Kossmann billed the TAC, WorkCover and Medicare
for operations that were not performed, that he did not carry out and that were unnecessary.

The Alfred spokesman Corey Nassau today told AAP the hospital had received the report
on March 27, but could not comment on the report or the findings that were alleged today.

Mr Nassau said The Alfred was considering the final report on Prof Kossmann's conduct
and had asked him to respond.

Health Minister Daniel Andrews received the report last Thursday and was verbally briefed
on its contents.

He has since passed it to the Department of Human Services and is awaiting advice on
it from the department.

Mr Andrews' spokesman Cameron Scott said the government could not yet comment on the report.

"It would be inappropriate to comment on a process that is incomplete," Mr Scott said.

Prof Kossmann was given the report last Thursday and has until April 17 to respond.

His wife Christina Morganti-Kossmann today told AAP she and her husband were not yet
ready to comment.

However Prof Kossmann has previously vehemently defended his conduct in the face of
the allegations against him.

Despite not seeing the report, Opposition leader Ted Baillieu called for a judicial inquiry.

"Now we have a scathing and damning report which is being kept secret, it should be
released, the people of Victoria deserve to know what's been going on at our number one
hospital," Mr Baillieu told reporters in Melbourne.

He said the incident was at risk of becoming Victoria's equivalent of Queensland's
Dr Jayant Patel scandal.

Patel has been charged with 16 offences, including three counts of manslaughter, related
to alleged botched operations while he was head of surgery at Queensland's Bundaberg Base
Hospital between 2003 and 2005.

"If all of this is swept under the carpet, as the Queensland government did, then that's
the risk, because people will lose confidence in the system and they'll lose confidence
in our trauma centre," Mr Baillieu said.

AAP kn/pmu/af/de

KEYWORD: SURGEON NIGHTLEAD

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