Doctor found guilty of forging documents, being disrespectful to feedback
The New Zealand Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal has cancelled the registration of a former doctor at the Taranaki Base Hospital for professional misconduct.
Teimur Youssefi, who was born in Afghanistan, was convicted by the tribunal for forgery as well as behaving unprofessionally with his colleagues.
Youssefi was already previously convicted at the Wellington District Court for forging a document when applying for provisional registration in New Zealand.
According to documents released by the tribunal, the doctor previously faced two disciplinary charges before the Malta Medical Council, where he was found guilty of failing to meet the ethical standard.
In his application for provisional registration in New Zealand, Youssefi forged a certificate of good standing from the Malta Medical Council by removing a page and tampering with the first page to remove references of his ethics breach in Malta.
He also incorrectly said during registration that he had not been the subject of disciplinary proceedings in the past.
According to the tribunal, behaviour was "immoral, illegal, unethical conduct and neglect of his professional duty."
"It therefore amounts to malpractice," the tribunal said in its decision.
Disrespectful response to feedback
In another particular, Youssefi was also accused of responding inappropriately and disrespectfully when given feedback.
In one situation, Youssefi was accused of behaving "aggressively and/or unpleasantly" during a meeting with two colleagues to discuss his competence.
He also accused other colleagues of bullying him and suggested that people who raised concerns about his response to a medical emergency should be probed. He further made incorrect statements claiming that a nurse had been so impressed with his performance that she praised him to the Head of Psychiatry.
He also called his former prevocational educational supervisor "crazy" and "inherently biased."
According to the tribunal, Youssefi's conduct was unprofessional towards his colleagues.
"Dr Youssefi's conduct was a departure from expected standards outlined in Good Practice," the tribunal said. "Therefore, the definition of negligence is met."
Professional misconduct
The tribunal ruled that when viewed cumulatively, Youssefi's forgery and unprofessional conduct amounted to professional misconduct and "warrant a disciplinary sanction."
In addition to cancelling his registration, the tribunal also censured Youssefi and made him pay $28,500 as payment for the costs of the tribunal and the Professional Conduct Committee.
He was also suspended for registered for a period not exceeding three years, and would be under certain conditions if he planned to resume his practice in the country.
