A nurse’s desperate lie to Qantas about his grandfather cost him his hospital job and landed him before a professional tribunal.
The Queensland nurse was brought before the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal this month by the Health Ombudsman after faking his grandfather’s death to avoid a plane fare.
The now 29-year-old man pleaded guilty in a Queensland Magistrates Court in August 2024 to one count each of forgery, uttering and fraud – dishonestly obtaining property from another.
The tribunal was told the nurse purchased a plane ticket for his grandfather to attend his wedding in April 2024.
In late 2023, his grandfather suffered a non-life-threatening cardiac event which left him unable to fly.
The nurse attempted to cancel his grandfather’s ticket but was told the fare was non-refundable unless the intended passenger had died.
Taking this information on board, the man then downloaded a Life Extinct form from the internet and fraudulently filled in the details, using a falsified unique record number and forged doctor’s signature.
He submitted the completed form to Qantas and was given a $1300 refund.
Queensland police were alerted of the nurse’s conduct and began a subsequent investigation, leading to his eventual arrest.
He was ordered by the court to serve under a 12-month good behaviour bond and pay restitution to Qantas.
He was also fired from his role at a Queensland hospital in 2024.
The tribunal ruled the nurse’s behaviour was inconsistent with being a “fit and proper person to hold registration” in his profession and constituted “professional misconduct”.
The man advised the tribunal he was recovering from a serious illness at the time that had left him with permanent disabilities.
He also claimed to have serious mental health issues which a physician noted could have contributed to his behaviour at the time.
The man told the tribunal he had completed further ethical training, pleaded guilty at an early opportunity and had fully co-operated with the ombudsman in his disciplinary proceedings, even self-reporting to AHPRA following the incident.
He claimed to have made significant strides in his mental health and understanding of the seriousness of his actions.
As such, and due to his remorse, the tribunal ordered he be reprimanded for his actions but did not revoke his registration.
