Alleged fake medical practitioner Keti Kate Cvetkov fronts Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court
An alleged sham hormone specialist banned from practicing for life has yet again had her court case delayed.
Melbourne City
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An alleged sham hormone specialist’s court hearing has been adjourned for the ninth time, with a magistrate warning this will be the last.
Keti “Kate” Cvetkov appeared at the Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court on Thursday via video link, wearing a tan trench coat.
In 2022, The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (APHRA) banned Ms Cvetkov from offering general health advice for life after an investigation revealed she depicted herself as an endocrinologist and offered medical treatment, which resulted in adverse outcomes for the patient.
Ms Cvetkov’s defence lawyer Hirani Nair told the court on Thursday that her client had only engaged with her legal firm on Monday and requested a further adjournment.
“After hearing the brief for the matter...the summary needs to be amended... we are hoping for a short adjournment,” she said.
Agency prosecutor Krista Weymouth said the alleged fraud medical practitioner’s hearing had been adjourned multiple times since 2022.
“This is her ninth appearance,” Ms Weymouth said.
The Herald Sun reported in February this year that the alleged sham hormone specialist failed to show up to her court hearing.
Magistrate Jennifer Grubissa said this would be the last time the court would entertain a request for an adjournment.
“This is not acceptable... now that she has engaged (a lawyer), I will allow one adjournment...but no further mention will be allowed,” she said.
Ms Grubissa told Ms Cvetkov that if she wished to plead not guilty at the next hearing, it would go straight to a contested hearing.
“I won’t be wasting the court’s time with a contest mention...on the next date, the matter will be a fixture plea, or it will go straight to contest,” she said.
Ms Nair told the court her client was a single mother and her son had Crohn’s disease.
“Her child has substantial appointments coming up... (therefore) she wants to adjourn the matter to after 15 July,” she said.
Ms Grubissa allowed the request.
Ms Cvetkov will return to court in July.
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