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Bogus Doctor Deceptions during Multi-Casualty Events and Disasters

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

Antony Nocera  and
Anne M. Newton
Antony Nocera
Affiliation:
Emergency Physician, CareFlight, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
Anne M. Newton
Affiliation:
Secretary, Australasian Trauma Society, Melbourne, Australia
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Abstract

Bogus doctors pose a threat to public health and safety, and they present a security threat at disaster and multi-casualty event sites. A “bogus doctor” is an individual who misrepresents him/herself as a registered medical practitioner by their demeanour, actions, dress, or surroundings, while not entitled to be on a register of medical practitioners. There are very few reports in the medical literature, but practitioners have encountered them at the site of a disaster or multi-casualty event. This paper examines the five cases identified in the literature. Secure systems that confirm a health professional's identity and qualifications are required to avoid unnecessary delays and to protect the victims and health professionals providing the care.

Keywords

bogusdeceptiondisasterdisaster planningfakemulticasualty incidentsphysicianssafety
Type
Brief Report
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 15 , Issue 3 , September 2000 , pp. 25 - 27
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2000

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