Queensland Nurse Banned Following Professional Misconduct Findings
A Queensland nurse has been prohibited from practicing for a period of two years after a tribunal found her guilty of professional misconduct related to cosmetic injecting services. The individual, Thia Sullivan, was found to have administered botulinum toxin formulations to a patient without a doctor's consultation or a prescription.
Investigation Details and Allegations
Investigations by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) on behalf of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia revealed several instances of misconduct by Ms. Sullivan. These included:
- Unlawfully injecting botulinum toxin without consultation or prescription.
- Creating false records pertaining to cosmetic treatments.
- Providing false or misleading information and documents to Ahpra investigators on three occasions in September 2019 and March 2020.
- Practicing as a nurse while her registration was suspended in August 2020, November 2020, and March 2021, administering cosmetic injectables without authorization.
- Attempting to deter two patients from cooperating with a Queensland Police investigation into her conduct in late August or early September 2021.
Legal Proceedings and Outcomes
Interim conditions were placed on Ms. Sullivan’s registration by the Board on September 5, 2019, followed by a suspension of her nursing registration on February 13, 2020, due to suspected non-compliance with those conditions. In 2022, Ms. Sullivan pleaded guilty in the Brisbane Magistrates’ Court to one charge of not being endorsed to possess a restricted drug and three counts of administering a restricted drug to another.
The matter was subsequently referred to the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT), which conducted a hearing in September 2023. The Tribunal found all six allegations against Ms. Sullivan proven and concluded that she had engaged in professional misconduct. QCAT stated that both general and specific deterrence were important considerations in the case, citing her previous disregard for her suspension.
As a result, Ms. Sullivan was reprimanded, her registration was cancelled, and she is prohibited from reapplying for nursing registration until September 29, 2027. She is also barred from providing any health service, including cosmetic injectables, until she is re-registered.
Regulatory Comments
Ahpra CEO Justin Untersteiner noted the significance of the Tribunal’s decision, linking it to the recent introduction of new guidelines by Ahpra and the National Boards for the cosmetic injectables industry. These guidelines were implemented in September to enhance patient protection and ensure appropriate practitioner conduct. Adjunct Professor Veronica Casey AM, Chair of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, emphasized the importance for patients to verify a practitioner’s registration status via the online register, particularly when undergoing treatments.