The Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal has released its decision following a hearing in Auckland on Monday 8 October 2018 concerning a charge laid by a Professional Conduct Committee appointed by the Physiotherapy Board against Jane Moore, a physiotherapist.
The charge was laid under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 and alleged that:
(a) Between 2012 and 2016 inclusive, Ms Moore conducted herself in an inappropriate and/or unprofessional manner in relation to her clinical record keeping and in February and March 2017, in her dealings with the Board; and
(b) Ms Moore practised her profession between on or about 1 and 18 April 2017, when she did not hold a current Annual Practising Certificate (APC).
The Tribunal found Ms Moore guilty of professional misconduct and imposed the following penalty orders:
- Censure
- Conditions on her practice for two years:
- independent supervision
- training in patient record keeping and/or professional obligations
- audits of clinical record keeping.
The Tribunal also ordered Ms Moore to pay costs of $26,000, being about 50% of the total costs incurred by the PCC.
This case provides a valuable reminder that physiotherapists must:
- properly keep and safeguard their clinical records
- not practise their profession without a current APC.