Queensland Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie moves to stop accused doctor from …



OFFICIALS are seeking a Supreme Court injunction to prevent a doctor from practising while police investigate allegations he hastened the deaths of three patients.


The move by Queensland Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie follows claims by colleagues that the Gold Coast doctor was seen at work in an intensive care unit at a private hospital, despite Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency restrictions.

The Crime and Misconduct Commission secretly referred criminal allegations against the doctor to the Queensland Police Service four days ago.

It was recommended by retired judge Richard Chesterman QC, who is assessing a series of allegations of medical malpractice made by Jo Barber, of Queensland Health’s ethical standards unit.

“Mr Chesterman’s recommendation to refer one of the doctors named in the complaint to the Queensland Police Service is based on an examination of related allegations and collection of available material,” a CMC spokeswoman said.

Ms Barber first investigated the allegations five years ago in her role as the Medical Board of Queensland’s chief investigator. “In referring the matter to police, the CMC has done exactly what I asked the medical board to do five years ago,” she said. “The whole matter is a disgrace.”

Ms Barber joined the medical board in 2009 after a career as a police officer and the manager of fraud investigations at WorkCover.

The likely legal challenge follows revelations by Queensland Health Minister Lawrence Springborg that the state is powerless to deregister the doctor because that authority now rests with AHPRA.

Once a complaint had been substantiated, AHPRA would have to make an application to the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal for the doctor to be struck off.

Mr Springborg and Mr Bleijie are concerned that process could take months.

 

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