Dr Colin Rattray-Wood accused of forging signature, accessing elderly woman’s records

A respected family GP faces possible suspension over an allegation he forged an elderly woman’s signature to get his hands on her medical records.

A respected family GP faces possible suspension over an allegation he forged an elderly woman’s signature to get his hands on her medical records.

Dr Colin Rattray-Wood faced the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal on Tuesday where the Medical Board of Australia argued he should be reprimanded, undergo ethics training and be suspended for three months over what it alleges was a case of professional misconduct.

The board’s barrister, Glyn Ayres, told the tribunal Dr Rattray-Wood falsely claimed, in a fax to the Austin Hospital, that he was the elderly woman’s doctor.

The Austin Hospital released sensitive information after Dr Colin Rattray-Wood allegedly forged an elderly woman’s signature.

In the fax, Dr Rattray-Wood requested a medical report after one of his patients told him about concerns she was being emotionally and financially abused.

Dr Rattray-Wood admitted sending the fax and receiving the records, but denies forging the woman’s signature.

Mr Ayres said Dr Rattray-Wood “inappropriately inserted himself” into a legal dispute about the elderly woman being abused by a family member, and said it was “implausible” that another person might have forged the woman’s signature.

Dr Rattray-Wood’s barrister, Fiona Ellis, said her client was a caring doctor who went “above and beyond” for his patients, and let his “personal mores” take over from his professional ethics.

Dr Colin Rattray-Wood’s asked the Austin Hospital for about a woman after he was told she was being financially and emotionally abused.

Last year, Dr Rattray-Wood he received more than 50 Christmas cards from patients and their families, thanking him for the care he puts in to his work, and has never been in strife with regulators in his 23 year career, Ms Ellis said.

She said Dr Rattray-Wood “went the extra mile” for the elderly woman, who wasn’t his patient and whom he had never met.

The woman accused of financially and emotionally abusing the elderly patient is now facing criminal charges, the tribunal heard.

Ms Ellis said Dr Rattray-Wood gained nothing by getting access to the elderly woman’s private medical information, and did not share it with anyone else.

Ms Ellis said Dr Rattray-Wood “doesn’t accept that he failed to act with integrity”, and should be spared a suspension.

She said he was suffering from the effects of a medical condition at the time and was not thinking straight.

The case returns to VCAT at a later date.