Physiotherapist disqualified for forging prescriptions and reprimanded for professional misconduct

26 Jun 2020

A registered physiotherapist in the Northern Territory has had his registration cancelled, been disqualified from applying for registration for three months and been reprimanded by the Northern Territory Civil and Administrative Tribunal (the tribunal) after it was found he had engaged in professional misconduct.

Between 31 July and 11 August 2017 Mr Christopher Hapel misappropriated pages of blank prescription pads from medical practitioners at Darwin Private Hospital, where he was temporarily employed, and then forged their signatures to obtain, or attempt to obtain, prescription medication by deception.

Although the three-month disqualification period is relatively short, the tribunal noted that Mr Hapel had not practised since October 2017, and that, should he apply for registration, he would have to establish that he is fit to be re-registered.

The tribunal’s decision is available on the Austlii website.