© 2026 Zoe. All rights reserved.
Zoe is a legal information platform. Always consult the Federal Register of Legislation for authoritative text.
[2016] ACAT 97
ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal
2016-08-19
Original judgment source is linked above.
(Occupational Discipline) [2016] ACAT 97
Catchwords: OCCUPATIONAL DISCIPLINE - health practitioner regulation - general practitioner - appeal from immediate action - conditions imposed - chaperone required
Legislation cited: ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2008 ss 39
Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (ACT) ss 151, 156, 199, 202
Cases cited: Ali Kozanoglu v The Pharmacy Board of Australia [2012] VSCA 295
Hocking v Medical Board of Australia [2015] ACAT 22
Texts/papers cited: Australian Health Practitioner Agency Chaperone Protocol
For the purposes of this condition, 'patient' is defined as any individual awaiting, requiring, or receiving the professional services of the registered health practitioner or a registered health practitioner within the same place of practice of the practitioner.
For the purposes of this condition, 'contact with a patient' includes consultation, interview, examination, assessment, prescribing for, advising, treating or otherwise seeing a patient, whether it is in person or on a communication device.
What information should the Tribunal have regard to?
The appeal to a responsible tribunal under the National Law is neither an appeal in the strict sense, nor a rehearing de novo. It is rather a hybrid, whereby the material to be considered is confined to that placed before the original decision-maker, but with the opportunity available to both parties to present additional evidence which bears directly upon that decision as originally taken. It is not 'open slather', but nor is it an appeal confined to error.[3]
Should the witnesses be subjected to cross-examination?
Impact of the conditions on the practitioner, the medical practice and the patients
_(1) A National Board may take immediate action in relation to a registered health practitioner ...if - _
_(a) the National Board reasonably believes that - _
(i) because of the registered health practitioner's conduct, performance or health, the practitioner poses a serious risk to persons; and
(ii) it is necessary to take immediate action to protect public health or safety.
The criteria are different from those relevant to a tribunal's consideration of a referral of a matter relating to the practitioner's professional performance or conduct. Immediate action is intended to provide an immediate response to an identified risk for the purpose of safeguarding public health or safety pending further investigation of a notification and where appropriate, referral to a tribunal for consideration of action to address performance, conduct or impairment more generally.[4]
Does the practitioner pose a serious risk to persons?
Is it necessary to take immediate action and if so what should that action consist of?
[2] Hocking v Medical Board of Australia [2015] ACAT 22; Ali Kozanoglu v The Pharmacy Board of Australia [2012] VSCA 295
HELMY
MEDICAL BOARD OF AUSTRALIA