Panel hearing summary 2020.0870

Decision of the Optometry Board of Australia

Performance and professional standards panel 

Jurisdiction: Queensland
Date of Decision: 18 October 2019

Classification of Notification

Boundary violation - Other inappropriate relationship (non-sexual)

Summary

The Board referred allegations that the Practitioner, an optometrist, provided his mobile telephone number to a patient at the end of the consultation and proceeded to engage in a personal relationship with the patient. He also had a second consultation with the patient while they were in a personal relationship.

The Panel considered that the Practitioner's conduct constituted a breach of professional boundaries. The Panel decided that the Practitioner has behaved in a way that constitutes unprofessional conduct. The Panel decided to caution the Practitioner.

The Panel was of the view that it was not necessary to impose any conditions on the Practitioner's registration given that he had voluntarily undertaken education courses on professional boundaries.