16 May 2014

Doctor fined for accepting cash

11:56 pm on 16 May 2014

A Christchurch doctor who accepted a $150,000 donation from a terminally ill patient must not practise medicine for six months.

A Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal found Jonathan Graham Wright breached professional conduct, by accepting the money from Cornelis Soeters in 2011.

The tribunal ruled Dr Wright had Mr Soeters sign a form declaring the gift without any witnesses present, and continued to act as his doctor after the money changed hands.

He also did not tell the clinic where he worked about the donation.

Following his suspension, Dr Wright must not work unsupervised for two years.

He also must pay a fine of $7500.