The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) has publicly named a West Australian practitioner that it believes poses “serious threat” to the public.
Ahpra CEO Justin Untersteiner said the power to issue a warning to the general public came into force two years ago, but today’s public statement is the first time these powers have been used in an effort to protect public health and safety.
The Ahpra-issued public statement relates to suspended West Australian practitioner Peter Terzi, also known as Peter Taylor, who Ahpra believes poses a serious risk to persons because of his conduct.
Peter Terzi/Taylor, who held dual registration as a dentist and a nurse, has been suspended from practising in both professions since 26 February this year.
He remains under investigation and Ahpra believes he may be continuing to present himself as a registered dentist or nurse while he is suspended and unregistered.
The practitioner is also currently facing criminal charges for two counts of knowingly and recklessly holding himself out as a registered dentist contrary to section 116(1)(c) and one count of carrying out a restricted dental act contrary to section 121, which are before the West Australian courts. He has entered a plea of not guilty to those charges.
Anyone who suspects they may have received treatment from or employed Peter Terzi/Taylor, or who has information that he has claimed to be a dentist or a nurse since 26 February, is urged to contact Ahpra’s Criminal Offences Unit on 07 3149 4771 or by email to criminal.offences@ahpra.gov.au
Driven by Exceptional Circumstances
“We take the matter of issuing public statements very seriously and will only ever issue such statements in exceptional circumstances where the public needs to be informed from a safety perspective,’ Mr Untersteiner said in a media release.
“The threshold for issuing a public statement is set at a high level. The decision to issue a public statement may only be made when Ahpra or a National Board form a reasonable belief that a practitioner or person poses a serious risk to the public.
“Issuing this statement today means we can warn the public while we continue to take steps to assess and investigate matters that could raise a serious risk to the public.”
Strict confidentiality obligations in the National Law prohibit Ahpra from commenting on the reasons for making the public statement, but the Agency said a full natural justice process was followed in accordance with the National Law.
The practitioner was provided with all the information pertaining to the decision to make a public statement and he was provided with an opportunity to make submissions as required by the law.
More information about public statements and warnings can be found on the Ahpra website.
