A Melbourne general practice that has been put through the legal wringer by a patient over access to a medical report has prevailed in their latest court battle.

The long-term patient, Con Michos, disgruntled over needing to make a GP appointment to pick up a report, has taken the Eastbrooke Medical Centre to a tribunal and two courts over 18 months claiming it is “in the public interest”.

With the practice facing the prospect of more than $30,000 in future legal fees, the Supreme Court of Victoria Court of Appeal has ordered the “impecunious” patient to provide $20,000 in security to cover costs, given the patient’s latest appeal was unlikely to succeed if granted.

The legal drama started when the patient asked for a psychiatric report that he needed for a transport accident compensation claim to be faxed to the Eastbrooke Medical Centre so he could pick it up.