Surgeon steps aside at hospital over new probe

Article from: The Australian written by Julie-Anne Davies October 31, 2008

THE former head of Australia's most prestigious trauma unit, Thomas
Kossmann, has voluntarily stepped aside from his work at Melbourne's
largest private hospital while its board examines the damning findings
made against him by Victoria's State Ombudsman.

Professor Kossmann, whom the Ombudsman on Wednesday accused
of deliberately "harvesting" insured patients to aid his rorting of public
funds and performing unnecessary surgery, has been practising at
Epworth Hospital since the Victorian Medical Practitioners Board
found in August that the surgeon posed no risk to the health and
safety of the public.

A spokeswoman for Professor Kossmann yesterday confirmed he
had agreed to step aside while the Epworth considered the findings of
the Ombudsman's report.

The hospital said Professor Kossmann remained credentialled to work
there with restrictions on his practice while the board and its medical
subcommittee considered the Ombudsman's findings.
"But Dr Kossmann has volunteered not to practise until that process is
complete," a hospital spokeswoman said.

Victorian Premier John Brumby earlier rejected suggestions he should
intervene to stop Dr Kossmann from continuing to operate at the Epworth.
"He's working under a strict regimen that is approved by the Royal
College of Surgeons, the hospital and the Medical Practitioners Board,
" Mr Brumby told ABC radio.

"I don't think it's for politicians to determine which doctors can or can't
practise; it would be entirely inappropriate."
The Brumby Government has adopted a hands-off approach to the
Kossmann affair since it blew up nearly a year ago when Melbourne's
The Alfred hospital suspended the surgeon after it received complaints
against him from four other doctors.

"These are matters for the specialists and I am sure that they are ...
considering all the relevant information and data," the Premier said.
He said he accepted the scandal had occurred on his Government's watch,
but added that the necessary safeguards had been implemented by The
Alfred to prevent a repeat.

"We run a health system in Victoria that consumes around $10 billion a
year and treats hundreds of thousands of patients," the Premier said.
"I believe it's the best in Australia, but it won't always be perfect."
Dr Kossmann's legal action in the Victorian Supreme Court against Bayside
Health, which operates The Alfred, will continue.

The surgeon is suing Bayside Health for defamation and forbreach of his
employment contract.

The high-profile former head of The Alfred's trauma unit faces Victoria
Police and tax office investigations into his billing practices with Medicare,
the Transport Accident Commission and Worksafe Victoria.