The Victorian Government appointed a surgeon accused of fraud and malpractice to its top trauma committee despite official complaints being lodged over his conduct several months earlier.
The state Opposition yesterday accused the Government of failing to conduct necessary background investigations on Thomas Kossmann, the suspended head of the trauma unit at The Alfred hospital in Melbourne. Professor Kossmann was stood stood down on November26. An investigation found he charged for operations he did not perform and carried out unnecessary procedures.
The Opposition yesterday produced documents revealing the surgeon applied to join the State Trauma Committee in August 2005. By this time, it is believed the first complaints had been made to The Alfred hospital by other surgeons. Guidelines for positions on the committee warn applicants they will be subject to strict background investigations.
Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu said the Government needed to declare what it knew about Professor Kossmann when it made the appointment. "The Brumby Government has refused to reveal whether they complied with the probity requirements before appointing Professor Kossmann to this top ministerial advisory role," he said. "Either the Government has been grossly negligent ... or they are covering up their involvement with him."
A leaked copy of the findings of a three-month investigation into Professor Kossmann by an expert panel, also reveals he allegedly performed surgery he was not capable of doing. Professor Kossmann has always denied the claims. He is challenging his suspension by Bayside Health in the Victorian Supreme Court.
A spokesman for Health Minister Daniel Andrews said the minister was first informed about complaints against Professor Kossmann on October 11 last year.
"These complaints are the subject of a process being run by Bayside Health. That process is robust and should be allowed to run its proper course," he said.
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