Re the Medical Practice Act 1992 and Dr Robert Towndrow [2004] NSWMT 2

New South Wales Medical Tribunal

CITATION : Re the Medical Practice Act 1992 and Dr Robert Towndrow [2004] NSWMT 2 TRIBUNAL: Medical Tribunal PARTIES : Health Care Complaints Commission Dr Robert Towndrow FILE NUMBER(S) : 40004 of 2003 CORAM: Patten, DCJ - Glover, Prof - Mares, Dr J - Cotton, R Ms CATCHWORDS: Deregistration LEGISLATION CITED: Medical Practice Act 1992 CASES CITED: DATES OF HEARING: DATE OF JUDGMENT: 27 January 2004 ORDERS: 1.The Tribunal further orders pursuant to s 64 (3) that an application for review of the earlier order may not be made until after the period of five years from today. 2.The Tribunal orders that Dr Towndrow pay the costs of the proceedings.

JUDGMENT:

IN THE MEDICAL TRIBUNAL OF NEW SOUTH WALES

DEPUTY CHAIRMAN: Judge D. Patten

TRIBUNAL MEMBERS: Professor W Glover Dr J Mares Ms R Cotton

NO: 40004 of 2003 Date of Determination: 27 January 2004

DR ROBERT TOWNDROW AND THE MEDICAL PRACTICE ACT OF NEW SOUTH WALES

Reasons for Determination and Orders

The Tribunal has before it, a Complaint in relation to Dr Robert Towndrow, who practised medicine as a psychiatrist before his voluntary deregistration in July last year.

The Complaint in summary, alleges that he formed an inappropriate, and sexual, relationship, with two patients, referred to in the documents before us and to whom we will refer as patients A and B; that he continued to treat those patients during the course of his inappropriate relationship with them; that he claimed Medicare for consultations which were not for therapeutic purposes; that he gave false and misleading information to the President of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, and that he provided inappropriate clinical management to them.