Dr Rudra (Rudi) Hoole, who practices as a general physician in clinics at Frankston, Rosebud and Cranbourne, at Peninsula Private Hospital in Frankston and Beleura Private and The Bays hospitals in Mornington, was deregistered for one year from March 1 after a VCAT hearing found him incompetent in the treatment of a 53-year-old Frankston woman who died in Beleura Hospital in 2005.

Dr Hoole has been given leave to appeal the decision in the Supreme Court and his suspension has been stayed, with conditions on his practice. The Supreme Court hearing is likely to take place next year.

Dr Hoole, who said he would begin consulting at hospitals again this week, is required to submit to a "random monthly audit" of 10 per cent of his patient records and must report to regular physician group meetings outlining his assessment and proposed treatment of patients with serious infection.

Dr Hoole was brought before the VCAT by the Medical Practitioners Board of Victoria following a coronial inquiry into the death of a 'AG', an inpatient at Beleura Hospital in July and August 2005. The tribunal ordered that 'AG' not be identified.

Dr Hoole was found to have engaged in "unprofessional conduct of a serious nature" and the the VCAT ordered that, in order to protect health consumers, he be deregistered by the Medical Practitioners Board for one year.

Dr Hoole said he had appealed the ban because it was "far too harsh for somebody who has had 40 years in medicine and [has] not made a mistake".

Notification of leave to appeal and the stay of the tribunal order was granted late on Monday.