A Sydney GP will inherit millions of dollars from a patient after he was written into his will as the main beneficiary, despite friend’s of the deceased man and the Salvation Army challenging the decision.
Dr Peter Alexakis won a NSW Court of Appeal case last month, and will inherit 90 per cent of the estate left behind by his patient, Raymond McClure, 84.
Mr McClure was a millionaire who had made his fortune selling property in the US before moving to Australia.
As he had never married or had children, the bulk of his $24 million fortune was previously left to the Salvation Army in a previous will.
Several months prior to his death in 2017, Mr McClure changed his will to make Dr Alexakis the main beneficiary and leave 65 per cent of his estate to him.
This will was later changed again, with Dr Alexakis receiving 90 per cent of Mr McClure’s estate, including his home in Strathfield, in Sydney’s west.
In a previous version of Mr McClure’s will, two of his friends were set to inherit up to 35 per cent between them.
In another will prior to that one, Mr McClure had put in the Salvation Army as the primary beneficiary.
The final will left the two friends of Mr McClure with nine and one per cent of the estate, and cut the Salvation Army out altogether.
In addition, Mr McClure also left $10,000 to a woman who had been working as his carer in 2017.
Both the Salvation Army and the two friends contested the will in a NSW court, arguing Dr Alexakis had used “undue influence” as a way to exploit Mr McClure for financial gain.
The court found in favour of Dr Alexakis and that he had not exercised “undue influence”.
Court documents revealed that Mr McClure had suffered multiple medical issues, such as diabetes, prostate cancer and renal failure.
This led to him being in and out of the hospital since June 2015, where he later returned home after discharging himself.
Dr Alexakis had been Mr McClure’s GP since 2015, making numerous hospital visits and later to his paitent’s home.
This wasn’t the first time Dr Alexakis had inherited some money after the death of a patient, as in 2014 he was bequeathed $86,380.