Former AFL-club doc suspended again for misconduct

Former Western Bulldogs team doctor Richard Vucinic was banned from practising medicine for two years and six months by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

Vucinic worked with the Bulldogs' VFL team as a part time doctor between 2013 before he was sacked in 2014.

The ban comes after he pleaded guilty to and was convicted in August 2022 of prescribing anabolic steroids and benzodiazepines to 13 different patients while he was under another suspension in 2015.

The Medical Board of Australia says he also impersonated another doctor to issue prescriptions in what they described as "premedidated" conduct for his own personal gain. 

Following his suspension in 2015, the board said Vucinic's "spiralled" into a life of drugs and property crime. 

The board also highlighted criminal convictions between 2018-19 that included possessing methamphetamine, possessing heroin, stealing mail, handling stolen goods and stealing small amounts of cash.

In his own written submissions, Vucinic described the time of his offending as a low point in his life, but he was ready to "draw a line under the events of the last 10 years" and rebuild his life.

He said that he fell in among people who validated his desire to blame others for his circumstances. 

He also said these people took advantage of him, leading to some of the convictions.

Last week, Tribunal senior member Jonathan Smithers suspended Vucinic for two years and six months. 

"A significant period of disqualification is required here," Mr Smithers said in his written findings. 

"We are concerned that Dr Vucinic has still not fully come to terms with his conduct, nor taken adequate steps to address its causes."

He was quick to reiterate that when Vucinic's suspension was complete he would not automatically be re-registered. 

It would be up to the board to ensure he was suitable for registration. 

Australian Associated Press