Doctor Jerry Schwartz slammed by coroner examining mother Eva Schwartz's death
A coroner has referred a doctor to the New South Wales Medical Council, after he signed the death certificates of his wealthy mother and her friend.
An inquest heard 76-year-old Eva Schwartz died in unusual circumstances in her Point Piper home, in Sydney's east, on August 20, 2005.
Mrs Schwartz owned more than a dozen luxury hotels and her son Jerry Schwartz, who is a cosmetic surgeon, filled out her death and cremation certificates.
Dr Schwartz listed his mother's cause of death as "a lack of oxygen to her vital organs" due to a collapsed lung and lung cancer.
Three weeks later Dr Schwartz also filled out the death certificate for his mother's best friend Magda Wales at Rushcutters Bay.
Mrs Wales was found dead in her bedroom by a neighbour.
Dr Schwartz said her death was caused by an "acute cardiac event", heart disease, obesity and diabetes.
In handing down her findings today, NSW Coroner Mary Jerram said the evidence she heard at the inquest does not let her make findings on the cause or manner of the deaths of the women.
"There are many aspects of the evidence of this inquest which are impossible to unravel," Ms Jerram said.
She said Dr Schwartz was an unsatisfactory witness who gave vague and evasive answers, and that his behaviour did little to dispel the impression he did not want to co-operate at the inquest.
"His conduct in both deaths falls short of the standard of professionalism and attention to ethics one would normally expect of medical practitioners," Ms Jerram said.
"I do not accept that the causes of death given by him for each of the deceased were either accurate or based on proper medical investigation.
"There was insufficient evidence in each case for him to have stated the causes of death as he did, or indeed the times or dates."
Ms Jerram has asked the chairman of the Medical Council of NSW to investigate if Dr Schwartz engaged in professional misconduct.
She has also asked the NSW Health Minister to consider banning doctors from certifying the deaths of close relatives, except in remote areas.