How Do You Find out The Qualification and Black Marks of a Doctor in Autralia?

Lstairclimber on 31/01/2016 - 12:27
Last edited 04/02/2016 - 11:09 by 1 other user

Edit 3:
Answer: Use http://www.ahpra.gov.au/Registration/Registers-of-Practition…
But search by state. Do NOT search by postcode.

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For example, let's say I am trying to find out the qualification and black marks (if any) of the following specialist in Western Australia:

MOD: Remove personal information.

Where does one begin to find out more information about this doctor?

I have checked the following websites and they are not useful:

Registers of Practitioners
http://www.ahpra.gov.au/Registration/Registers-of-Practition…
http://www.ahpra.gov.au/Registration/Registers-of-Practition…

http://www.agpal.com.au/practicesearch/

{Not longer available}
http://www.gpa.net.au/index.php/practices/find-a-gpa-practic…

Edit 1:
It is difficult to believe that medical health being such an important consumer product does not have a reliable website to allow one to evaluate the competence of medical professionals in Australia.

Edit 2:
As a consumer I am entitled to evaluate an alleged health professional based on the history of the provider, e.g. training history, punishments , suspensions , banned from prescribing certain medications.

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  Olokun on 31/01/2016 - 13:00

  I'm not sure why the AHPRA website is not sufficient? It shoes the doctors qualifications as well as any conditions on their registration.

  http://www.ahpra.gov.au/Registration/Registers-of-Practition…

  • 

    stairclimber on 31/01/2016 - 13:23

    I have tried it with Dr James Kent, and he cannot be found on that website.

    Perhaps I am missing something.

    • 

      bod311 on 31/01/2016 - 14:29

      You are most definitely missing something click the link:

      http://www.ahpra.gov.au/Registration/Registers-of-Practition…

      Evaluate away.

      • 

        stairclimber on 31/01/2016 - 14:51

        +1

        Thanks a million.

        Note that his address postcode on the internet is 6102 , but in www.ahpra.gov.au it is 6107 .

        No wonder I could not find him.

        Bottomline: Do not search by postcode. Just search by state.

      • 

        bod311 on 31/01/2016 - 17:15

        +1

        @stairclimber: FYI no search would reveal the whole picture. This obviously provides no indication of poor outcomes of surgery that wouldn't amount to being negligent or worthy of investigations.

        Also most medical negligence cases either don't start at all as it is difficult and expensive to run such a case.

        Those cases that do start will more often than not settle before going to trial as a result there will be no public record.

        Only very few cases go to trial.

        It is also difficult to have a Doctor be reprimanded even if a Doctor does something that would amount to a case in negligence it may not be sufficient to constitute disciplinary hearings by the bird.

        TLDR: search won't reveal if he is just an average or poor surgeon

      • 

        stairclimber on 31/01/2016 - 18:45

        @bod311:

        Well, looks like we are in the shit house in Australia unless some better database comes along .

        Where are the Australian Consumers Association and CHOICE magazine when you need them ?

      • 

        Baysew on 01/02/2016 - 08:58

        @stairclimber: At 57 Carrington Road Marrickville, NSW, 2204

        Join

        They are a member funded organization.

      • 

        fredblogs on 01/02/2016 - 10:28

        @Baysew: He's not asking how to find CHOICE or how it's funded, he's asking for a better database. I'm pretty sure CHOICE does not have this.

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  captobvious on 31/01/2016 - 13:09

  +2

  i struggle to spell my doctors name let along search him up.

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  blitz on 31/01/2016 - 13:12

  +1

  a reliable website to allow one to evaluate the competence of medical professionals in Australia.

  Are you qualified to make such an evaluation?

  • 

    stairclimber on 31/01/2016 - 13:24

    +3

    As a consumer I can evaluate based on the history of the doctor, e.g. punishments , suspensions , banned from prescribing certain medications.

    Does that answer your question?

    • 

      captobvious on 31/01/2016 - 16:23

      I'm looking for Dr Monthoff, let me know if you find him/her.

    • 

      paul_5666 on 01/02/2016 - 07:26

      If you are only looking for official reprimands by regulating bodies then AHPRA website is the place to go. It will have the conditions placed on a practitioner's registration.

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  973728 on 01/02/2016 - 13:45

  Interesting question.
  When I was new to the Kensington, VIC area I tried a number of Doctors before I found one that I trusted. There was one doctor that has no strikes against him on AHPRA, and glowing reviews (by family member?) on Google. That said, he was possibly the dodgiest doctor I have ever seen for a few reasons:

  • He said I can pay $70 cash or bulk billing + $20 cash in hand. Note that it is against medicare rules to bulk bill and charge an additional fee!
  • His line of questioning (for a fairly common illness) was kind of pervasive.
  • The practice is anything but well-kept

  How would I have any idea prior to visiting his practice?

  I just decided to not use his services again.

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  WT on 01/02/2016 - 14:56

  I cant contribute to your specific question, but on a lighter note I find dr google great and I highly reccomend them