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11 Jul 2016
A New South Wales man has been fined $10,000 and received a criminal conviction after knowingly and recklessly holding out as a registered nurse.
Mr Orlando Marquinez’s registration as a nurse was cancelled in 2014 by the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal following findings of unsatisfactory professional conduct and professional misconduct. He has not been registered since that time.
Pretending to be a registered health practitioner is an offence under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law, as in force in each state and territory.
The false claim came to light after Mr Marquinez’s employer searched for his registration on the National Register of Health Practitioners.
At the hearing in the Downing Centre Local Court in Sydney, His Honour Chief Magistrate Henson recorded a conviction and fined Mr Marquinez $10,000 plus legal costs.
The current registration status of all of Australia’s 637,000 registered health practitioners is published on the register of practitioners. If a person’s name does not appear on the register, they are not registered to practise in a regulated health profession in Australia.
‘This shows the importance of checking the register before employing a registered health practitioner.’ Lynette Cusack, Chair of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) said.
‘The NMBA takes anyone holding out as registered health practitioner seriously. Anyone caught engaging in this type of conduct will face action, including potential criminal prosecution,’ Dr Cusack said.
Anyone with concerns about the registration status of a person working as a registered health practitioner should contact AHPRA immediately.
Download a PDF of this Media Release - Unregistered nurse convicted and fined by court (110 KB,PDF)