NEWS-HR

A medical practitioner who was suspended after making a series of “inflammatory, misogynistic and racist” online posts while working at the Royal Hobart Hospital has had his suspension extended pending further investigation. The Medical Board of Australia issued a press release this morning announcing it had suspended the registration of Dr Christopher Kwan Chen Lee, effective from yesterday. “The Board has taken this action in the public interest to maintain confidence in the medical profession,” the release said. Dr Lee, 31, was taken to the Tasmanian Health Practitioners Tribunal by the Medical Board and was found guilty of professional misconduct at a hearing in Hobart earlier this year. Tribunal chairman Robert Webster said Dr Lee made inappropriate statements on internet forums and chat sites in December 2016 while he was working as an emergency medicine registrar at the Royal. He was employed at the hospital from February 2016 to February 2018 and also worked some of that time at the Launceston General Hospital. He is now based in Victoria. On Singaporean online forum Hardware Zone, Dr Lee posted a series of remarks in the context of a situation in Singapore/Malaysia where a local female college student had made disparaging remarks about servicemen. His posts included: — “This kind will never learn. She needs to be abandoned in India and repeatedly raped in order for her to wake up her idea.” — “Some women deserve to be raped, and that supercilious little bitch fits the bill in every way.” — “I will not conform to your ridiculous moral standards and your expectations of what a doctor should or should not say.” — “I am a medical practitioner. I also have a foul mouth and call a spade a spade.” Chairman Webster said Dr Lee had understood his posts could be seen as “inflammatory, misogynistic or racist in tone.” Dr Lee was suspended for six weeks and ordered to complete a program on ethical behaviour and communications, particularly in the use of social media. Dr Lee’s suspension was due to end on Tuesday, but it will now be ongoing while the Medical Board conducts an investigation. “The Board will not be making any further comment in relation to Dr Lee at this time,” the release said. The Medical Board does not have the legal power to deregister a practitioner — only an independent tribunal can cancel a practitioner’s registration.

A doctor in Perth has been charged after she allegedly used a restricted computer system to prescribe herself medications. Police say the 37-year-old woman was at the time employed at a northern suburbs clinic and committed the offence 14 times by altering patient prescriptions. She is due to appear before Joondalup Magistrates Court on Friday.

Safe Places Community Services Limited must face up to a s.739 (Application to deal with a dispute) to be heard by Commissioner Booth in Hearing Room 1 in Brisbane (Watson).

Support Angels Bendigo is facing a s.394 (Application for unfair dismissal remedy) in front of Fair Work Deputy President Clancy in Chambers in Melbourne (Wearne).

A s.394 (Unfair dismissal) application by Darcy Constantine citing Minda Incorporated T/A has been dismissed by Fair Work Commissioner Platt, in Adelaide, on 11 June 2019. The case summary reads: “Application for an unfair dismissal remedy – jurisdictional objection – minimum employment period – contractor or employee – held not an employee for 6 months prior to dismissal – applicant not protected from unfair dismissal – application dismissed.”

National Patient Transport Pty Ltd will be asked for its account (s.394 – Application for unfair dismissal remedy) today by Fair Work Commissioner Cirkovic in Chambers in Melbourne (Morgan).

Blackmores Limited is dealing with a s.372 (Application to deal with other contravention disputes) in front of Fair Work Deputy President Cross in Hearing Room 14-2 – Level 14 in Sydney (Weston).

Justice and Community Safety has been served with a s.739 (Application to deal with a dispute) notice requiring an examination by Fair Work Deputy President Kovacic in Meeting Room 3 in Canberra (Faame).