Authorities to investigate hundreds of medical degrees from abroad

No serious medical blunders found in activities of fake doctors

Markus Henriksson

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The National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health (VALVIRA), which has come under fire in connection with the recent fake doctor scandal, has announced plans to put the credentials of doctors with medical degrees from abroad under closer scrutiny.
      At a press conference on Tuesday, top VALVIRA officials admitted that there have been lapses in oversight.
      Markus Henriksson, head of the authority’s supervisory section, says that no serious cases of malpractice had come to light among patients treated by suspected fake doctor Esa Laiho.
     
Criminal investigations have been launched concerning both the activities of Laiho himself, and possible negligence by VALVIRA.
      Four written complaints concerning Laiho’s activities had been filed by Tuesday afternoon, and more are expected. Most of the complaints are from next of kin who want to find out if medical decisions by Laiho might have contributed to a relative’s death.
      There are also a number of cases in which other questions have been raised about treatment that was given.
     
It is now apparent that lapses of scrutiny have occurred at places where Laiho had worked.
      On Tuesday it was revealed that nurses working with Laiho had expressed concern about his activities on several occasions, but that none of the cases were acted on. VALVIRA is now investigating why no action was taken.
     
As a precaution VALVIRA has announced that it will review the competence of all doctors with medical degrees from outside the EU and EEA countries. This applies to at least 500 of Finland’s 24,500 licenced doctors.
      VALVIRA will be asking foreign universities for confirmation of former students’ studies. The cost of the investigation is expected to be in the tens of thousands of euros, and will affect the authority’s activities for several months to come.
     
Another case of a suspected fake doctor treating patients came to light on Tuesday. The Pirkanmaa Hospital District reported that a man who had been working as a temporary contract doctor for two months at the Tampere University Hospital was not properly qualified, and that his medical certificate had proven to be a forgery.
      The name of the suspected false doctor was not made public in this case. The apparent fraud came out last week.
     


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Daughter of deceased patient of suspected bogus doctor files complaint (11.11.2011)
  Fake doctor may have treated thousands of patients in Southern Finland (10.11.2011)

See also:
  Phony doctor hurts credibility of Karkkila health services (11.1.2010)

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