A urologist who was once cleared of the wilful murder of a terminally ill patient has been fined $30,000 over his care of a man with bladder cancer. In 2013, Daryl Alan Stephens failed to read a pathology report for up to three months that revealed one of his patients had high-grade bladder cancer that had grown into the muscle. When he realised the patient had the aggressive cancer, he did not tell the man about the recommended treatment options of surgery or radiotherapy, instead opting for conservative management. After a State Administrative Tribunal hearing, Dr Stephens was this week told he would be fined the maximum of $30,000 but would be allowed to keep working as a specialist. The tribunal found the urologist had engaged in professional misconduct and was incompetent in his treatment. But it ruled the protection of the public was not at issue in the case and found Dr Stephens had shown significant insight and had taken steps to ensure his behaviour was not repeated. Dr Stephens told the tribunal he felt conservative management was the best option. The patient died in October 2014 but no allegation was made that his death was caused by the treatment or lack of treatment from Dr Stephens. Dr Stephens was involved in a murder trial over allegations he killed cancer patient Freeda Hayes with fast-acting drugs in 2000 but was acquitted.
