Nurse found guilty of misconduct after visiting former patient 67 times

A registered nurse has been found guilty of professional misconduct for entering an intimate relationship with a former patient. The Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal found the nurse breached professional boundaries by maintaining contact with the man after their professional relationship ended. The nurse made 67 personal visits to the man while he was in prison.

The man, referred to as Mr A, was serving a life sentence for convictions including murder and had little family or community support. During her time treating him, the nurse helped him manage his mood and anger, though no inappropriate conduct was suggested during the period of care. Prison records listed the nurse as his partner on 14 occasions and included her on his approved phone list.

The tribunal stated the breach was not a “momentary lapse or minor transgression” but involved sustained contact over several years. It noted a power imbalance existed because the man was an incarcerated patient and the nurse was a treating professional. After the man was released on parole, the pair developed an intimate physical relationship.

The nurse was censured, fined $1,000, and ordered to pay $10,505.80 in costs. She must also undergo professional supervision and disclose the decision to future employers for 18 months. The tribunal decided that suspending or cancelling her registration was not necessary, noting she had no prior disciplinary history and had engaged in therapy and education.

How it developed

• Fri 9 Oct, 8:57amThe tribunal decision was dated December 2025 but was only released to the public on a Thursday.

Where reports differ

• One report identifies the patient as Mr A and notes his life sentence for murder, while the other does not provide these specific details

Compiled from reports by Stuff and The Press.