The Medical Council has been ordered to rehear a complaint against a surgeon accused of claiming fees for services he did not provide.
Timothy Teoh Sim Chuan had been charged and found guilty of disciplinary offences for presenting to a health fund vouchers for consultancies that had not taken place.
The council had ordered he be removed from the register of medical practitioners for six months, and that if he tried to re-register he would have to show he had reformed with regard to ethical conduct.
Dr Teoh appealed against the punishment in the Court of Appeal on the grounds that he had never been able to present a defence.
It had been alleged that Dr Teoh, while treating a patient for a psychiatric complaint in October 2003, issued four vouchers for consultations that did not occur.
The doctor admitted he had not seen the patient in person, but said he had consulted with him over the phone on each occasion.
The council convicted Dr Teoh based on its finding that he had altered the patient's medical record after the fact to make it appear as if he had actually seen the man. Its finding was based on a discrepancy between the original medical record, which was tendered at the disciplinary hearing, and a photocopy given to the patient in September 2004.