Dr Sarang Chitale: The real doctor faker Shyam Acharya stole an identity from to practice medicine
THE doctor whose identity was stolen and used by a fraudster to work unchecked in NSW hospitals for 11 years has been left “shocked and distressed’’ by the scandal.
NSW
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THE innocent doctor who fell victim to a fraudster who stole his identity to work unchecked in NSW hospitals is struggling to comprehend the revelations as he works as a respected specialist in the UK.
At his home west of Manchester, a visibly distressed Dr Sarang Chitale was hesitant to comment last night but his family described the scandal as nothing short of “distressing and shocking”. The rheumatologist’s identity was used by Shyam Acharya, 41, to masquerade as a doctor in Sydney for 11 years.
Dr Chitale said “I’m not talking anything about it” before leaving for work at a medical practice in Lancashire.
His wife said figuring out how Acharya had conned Indian and Australian authorities into issuing him a passport, a skilled migrant visa and then Australian citizenship was an “ongoing investigation”.
“It is quite distressing and shocking. There is nothing we can do, all we can do is carry on,” she said.
“He has been advised not to talk to anybody while there is an ongoing investigation.”
Dr Chitale, originally from India, works at three medical clinics north of Manchester where he treats patients with severe arthritis and joint disorders.
He is held in high regard within the British medical community and has published several papers on ageing and chronic disease.
RELATED: FAKE DOCTOR PRACTISED MEDICINE FOR 11 YEAR
NSW Health authorities have refused to detail what medical care was given by Acharya over the 11 years he treated patients, as pressure mounts for an independent inquiry.
Former Manly Hospital colleagues recall the fraudster oversaw interns and held a “senior role” in the busy emergency department, where his deception went undetected for six years until he quit in 2014, saying he had “had enough of working nights”.
NSW Health insists Acharya was only a junior doctor but a Manly Hospital security guard said Acharya had acted as a “senior doctor” in the emergency department.
“He was the senior doctor in charge for the 10pm-8am night shifts … he trained the interns and they would all report to him,” the security guard said.
“He would treat everyone you see through an ED so broken legs, mental health patients, car crash victims, you name it.”
A Local Health District spokesman said Acharya was “only ever employed as a junior doctor with access to senior consultant advice”.
However a nurse said Acharya had been the “senior registrar” adding he was “very competent ... it makes me believe that he had some sort of medical training.”
Asked for details of Acharya’s treatment of patients, NSW Health said: “Doctors employed in NSW hospitals treat patients of all ages and prescribe and administer drugs ... (he) was not employed as a surgeon. We are unable to provide any further information for fear of prejudicing current or potential ... prosecutions.” The Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Authority brought charges against Acharya but he fled the country.
Opposition Health spokesman Walt Secord called for an external investigation. “It is perplexing as to why (authorities) would not reveal whether the fake doctor performed procedures or his activities as a doctor,” he said.
Originally published as Dr Sarang Chitale: The real doctor faker Shyam Acharya stole an identity from to practice medicine
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