A man who unlawfully presented himself as a registered pharmacist has been convicted and fined $24,500 and costs of $15,000. A New South Wales court convicted suspended pharmacist David Le of holding out as a registered pharmacist. The charges, filed by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), alleged that Le had held himself out as a registered pharmacist between 8 August 2017 and 15 August 2018 in contravention of the National Law.1 On 7 August 2017, the Pharmacy Council of New South Wales imposed an interim suspension on Le’s registration after it determined that a suspension was appropriate for the protection of the health or safety of the public or was otherwise in the public interest. AHPRA alleged that despite this suspension, Le continued to open and operate the pharmacy alone without a registered pharmacist on duty. On 7 March 2019, Le pleaded guilty to holding himself out as a registered pharmacist, when he was not. On 27 March 2019, Magistrate Still, in the Local Court, convicted Le and imposed an aggregate fine of $24,500. He was ordered to pay legal costs to AHPRA of $15,000. AHPRA CEO Martin Fletcher said the court outcome demonstrates AHPRA’s work is helping to protect health consumers across Australia.
April 3, 2019
A s.739 (Application to deal with a dispute) made by the National Union of Workers citing Sigma Company Limited T/A Sigma Healthcare has been sorted by Commissioner Cirkovic in Melbourne on 28 March 2019.
April 3, 2019
CBHS Health Fund Limited is still defending a s.394 (Application for unfair dismissal remedy) which is being reviewed by Deputy President Bull in chambers in Sydney (Sethi).
April 3, 2019
The CEO of Connecting Home Ltd has resigned for ‘personal reasons’. He is to return to Queensland. Lisa Zammit is the acting CEO.
April 3, 2019
Co As It Community Services Inc has a s.739 (Application to deal with a dispute) with which it must deal before Commission Booth in his Brisbane chambers (McMahon).
April 3, 2019
Minda Incorporated is facing a s.394 (Application for unfair dismissal remedy) before Fair Work Commissioner Platt in his Adelaide chambers (Constantine).
April 2, 2019
HSS Home Support Services has a s.372 (Application to deal with other contravention disputes) to answer before Fair Work Deputy President Anderson in his Adelaide chambers (Nickel).
April 2, 2019
A woman has been accused of deliberately putting spicy food in the meal of an elderly man while working as a caretaker at an aged-care facility. Kyra Johnson, 30, was arrested by police, following reports she fed an 81-year-old with dementia jalapeño peppers, despite her knowledge he was not accustomed to eating spicy food. Employees at the Village on the Park retirement home allegedly saw Ms Johnson “chop up and place a jalapeño pepper” in a portion of the man’s eggs and feeding them to him, even though he did not require assistance eating. Witnesses reportedly told police they saw the victim “fanning and gasping for air to cool his mouth” after unknowingly eating the jalapeño peppers. Employees alleged it was Ms Johnson’s intention to cause the man pain and suffering. A witness reportedly said: “I hope that is not hot” prior to the meal being served, with Ms Johnson allegedly replying: “I hope it is”. The man reportedly relied on help from employees in the memory care unit. Ms Johnson, who no longer works at the aged-care unit, was arrested and charged with abuse by a caretaker.
