In Re Dr Ross Bills and the Medical Practice Act 1992 [2005] NSWMT 1

New South Wales Medical Tribunal

CITATION : In Re Dr Ross Bills and the Medical Practice Act 1992 [2005] NSWMT 1 TRIBUNAL: Medical Tribunal PARTIES : Dr Ross Bills Health Care Compliants Commission FILE NUMBER(S) : 40010 of 2003 CORAM: Puckeridge, QC DCJ - Child, Dr D - Giuffrida, Dr M - Kusuma, Ms R CATCHWORDS: LEGISLATION CITED: Medical Prcatice Act1992 CASES CITED: DATES OF HEARING: DATE OF JUDGMENT: 17 January 2005 ORDERS: 1 The complaint be dismissed.; 2 Each party pay its own costs.

JUDGMENT: Reasons for Determination

1 At the commencement of the hearing the Tribunal was advised that the Health Care Complaints Commission [the complainant] relied upon particular 4(i) of the amended complaint dated 18 February 2004 to support its complaint.

2 Paragraph 4 of the amended complaint reads:- The practitioner contravened a condition of his registration when he: (i) failed to attend for review by Dr P Morse, Board nominated Psychiatrist in July 2000.

3 Dr Bills first came to the attention of the New South Wales Medical Board in 1994 following a notification of the Pharmaceutical Services Branch that he had been self-administering pethidine. An Impaired Registrants Panel was convened on 22 July 1994 and conditions were placed on Dr Bills' practice.

4 At a Board review on 2nd February 1999, Dr Bills agreed to the continuation of his registration as a medical practitioner on certain conditions.

5 Following notification from the Pharmaceutical Services Branch that 2560 Panadeine Forte tablets had been supplied to Dr Bills from the Karabar Pharmacy in the 12 month period to June of 1999, Dr Bills was interviewed on 29 June 1999. In that interview Dr Bills denied self-administration save for the medical condition of arthritis and stated that the Panadeine Forte in question was supplied to patients as 'sample packs'. An Impaired Registrants Panel was convened on 4 February 2000 regarding Dr Bills.