Former Western Bulldogs doc Dr Richard Vucinic faces suspension for fraud convictions

An ex-AFL doc who once earned $300k a year but now rolls on the dole could be bounced out of the game for a fraud conviction.

Former Western Bulldogs doctor Richard Vucinic leaves the Melbourne Magistrate court earlier this year.

A former AFL doctor who illegally prescribed drugs to patients he claimed were outlaw bikies could be sidelined for longer after he was convicted of fraud.

Disgraced ex-Western Bulldogs medico Dr Richard Vucinic fronted the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal on Wednesday to answer allegations of misconduct.

The tribunal heard Vucinic, 45, was convicted in 2019 after pleading guilty to theft and obtain property by deception charges.

The Medical Board of Australia submitted Dr Vucinic, who is suspended until December 2023, should cop a further 12 months on the sidelines.

Dr Vucinic, who requested an adjournment to seek legal representation, told the tribunal it was in “his best interest” not to “provide commentary” until he got a lawyer up.

“A lot of things I said in the past have been taken out of context and gotten me into more trouble,” Dr Vucinic said.

“I think that’s the best way to maintain what little integrity I have left.”

However, Dr Vucinic then spoke freely for much of the remainder of the hearing.

“This all started because it was alleged I was trafficking drugs,” he said.

“That case and the charges were dropped … I’ve made silly decisions and I take full responsibility.

“They were serious allegations, and I got plastered over the media being associated with bikies … this has ruined my life.

“Not a day goes past that I don’t take responsibility that I don’t put my hand up and accept the stupid decisions that I’ve made, you know scripts and repeat scripts that I shouldn’t have.

“I used to work for the Western Bulldogs, used to be a doctor for an AFL club, I’ve gone from the top to the tree to the bottom, I risked incarceration, and was living in the streets for four or five months, lost my relationship with my partner and access to my daughter.”

Sarah Keating, for the Board, asked for costs to be reserved if Wednesday’s hearing was adjourned.

Ms Keating estimated costs would come in at approximately $5000.

“It’s just one thing after the other,” Dr Vucinic said.

“Like today now with the costs, it’s like they’re saying ‘let’s fix him up more’.

“How am I gonna pay that $5000, I live off $600 a fortnight.

“I’ve been looking for a job, but when I go for a job people look at my resume and think I’m lying.

“I’ve got to lie now – because if I tell them I’ve gone through university, and got first class honours they think I’m crazy.”

The tribunal heard Dr Vucinic was suspended for three years in December 2020 after he prescribed Xanax and Valium in “excessive quantities” and “without clinical justification” to three patients between December 2013 and March 2014.

Dr Vucinic also proscribed testosterone to a patient and provided false and/or misleading evidence.

Dr Vucinic told the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, during the investigation, that a “couple of patients of mine” were “part of an outlaw motorcycle gang”.

“It has now almost been two years since my life was rocked to its very foundations after being set up by a couple of patients of mine who were part of an outlaw motorcycle gang,” Dr Vucinic told APHRA in February 2016.

“To this very day I continue to suffer from the aftermath of their crime …

“What has made things even worse was the enormous amount of media interest in this case which was the result of the police leaking my case to the media …”

The tribunal agreed to adjourn today’s proceeding after Dr Vucinic, who used to earn $300,00 a year but is now on the dole, assured he could afford a lawyer

“I can obtain access to my super due to severe financial distress … so I can get a payout of $10,000 every 12 months,” he said

The matter will return in June.

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