Tara Murray
A Sunshine North doctor has been referred to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) in regards to issuing falsified COVID-19 exemptions.
A sign on the surgery of Dr Mark Hobart in Sunshine North, which has been seen by Star Weekly, said “the Victorian government has banned patients from entering this surgery because Dr Hobart refused to surrender your private and confidential patient files.”
The Department of Health has been made aware of those concerns and has referred the matter to the Ahpra.
A department spokesperson said the regulation of general practitioners is a matter for federal authorities.
“We’re investigating reports of a small number of GPs issuing false vaccination certificates and exemptions and we’re working together with relevant enforcement agencies to ensure swift action is taken.”
The criteria for a COVID-19 vaccine exemption are strict. Vaccine exemptions can only be issued on specific medical grounds, including a severe reaction to a COVID-19 vaccine or a severe acute medical illness that allows for a temporary delay in vaccination.
A website, the Covid Medical Network includes a letter from Dr Hobart to chief medical officer Brett Sutton.
The letter written in May, states that Dr Hobart has grave concerns of increased risk of adverse events following vaccination of recovered COVID-19 patients
His concerns were raised due to his own clinical experience and discussions with senior immunologists, virologists and infectious disease specialists.
At the time he was calling for all nursing home patients in particular to be tested for COVID antibodies prior to receiving vaccination and to be fully informed of the increased risks of severe adverse events if they are found to be positive.
