Panel hearing summary 2023.0920

Decision of the Pharmacy Board of Australia

Performance and professional standards panel

Jurisdiction: Victoria
Date of Decision: 25 August 2023

Classification of Notification

Communication - Insensitive or inappropriate comments (non-sexual)

Summary

The Board referred allegations relating to the Practitioner’s communication with Patients, by making suggestions about health management based on her personal religious beliefs and providing advice that was inconsistent with public health orders in relation to Covid-19.

The Practitioner was found to have engaged in unprofessional conduct consequent on her being found to have breached aspects of the 2014 Code of Conduct and the 2022 Shared Code of Conduct, principally relating to her unprofessional communication skills.  The Practitioner was cautioned and had conditions imposed requiring her to attend for mentoring (12 hours over 12 months).