Keep informed of recent HPDT decisions accessible on the Medical Council's website.

The Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal (HPDT) requests that the Medical Council share specific disciplinary findings relating to doctors. We believe that transparency is crucial for maintaining trust and ensuring the well-being of the public.

To keep you informed, a summary of recent HPDT decisions is accessible on the Medical Council's website. The summaries also provide direct links to access the full decisions on the HPDT website.

🧷Stay updated on recent HPDT decisions here.

Dr Aashish Raj (Med22/576P)

In a decision released September 2023, the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal (the Tribunal) suspended Dr Aashish Raj, former emergency medicine specialist of Auckland, for 2 years and six months for impaired driving convictions.

Following the hearing held in July 2023, the Tribunal found Dr Raj guilty of professional misconduct for convictions that were found to have brought or were likely to bring discredit to the medical profession and adversely affected Dr Raj’s fitness to practise. These convictions primarily related to an incident when Dr Raj was on a zero-alcohol licence. Dr Raj drove on the wrong side of the road and collided with another vehicle. He fled the scene. Dr Raj was found to have had a blood alcohol level more than five times the legal limit.

In making its findings, the Tribunal found that Dr Raj’s conduct was very serious. Dr Raj posed a risk to the public through his actions, as reflected in the injuries of the other driver and his subsequent behaviour. Dr Raj also had a history of similar offending related to his alcoholism.

Dr Raj was suspended for 30 months, censured, and had conditions imposed for 3 years after his return to practice. The Tribunal also ordered Dr Raj to pay 25 per cent of the PCC and Tribunal’s costs.

🧷A more detailed summary of the Tribunal’s decision is available here on the Council’s website.