May 24, 2023
The recent suspension of Kingaroy GP Dr Isabella Jonsson from practising for three months will have a “catastrophic” impact on the community, South Burnett Mayor Brett Otto told Wednesday’s Council meeting.
Councillors voted to approach State and Federal MPs to seek an urgent review of the penalty imposed by the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) on May 8.
QCAT suspended Dr Jonsson from practising for three months after it found she had treated relatives, and failed to keep adequate medical records of the treatment, in violation of the Medical Board’s code of conduct.
Patients of Dr Jonsson have been contacting local politicians – and concerns have been raised in the media – since the tribunal decision was published.
On Wednesday morning, Dr Jonsson met with South Burnett Mayor Brett Otto and Cr Danita Potter to discuss her suspension.
Mayor Otto said Dr Jonsson has been “sincere and genuine” when she expressed her grave concerns about the impact her suspension would have on the community.
He said the suspension was going to be “catastrophic”.
The three-month suspension would affect the ability of pharmacists to honour repeat prescriptions for Dr Jonsson’s patients, and for pathology labs to undertake tests, he said.
Another “very significant consequence” was the two-year prohibition, ordered by QCAT, on Dr Jonsson supervising overseas-trained doctors and registrars.
“Dr Jonsson has two doctors who are ready to be engaged, overseas-trained doctors ready to start in the next few months, but she is unable to finalise their engagement and bring them here to work in our community because she can now not supervise for a two-year period,” Mayor Otto said.
“(That’s) two years she can’t bring doctors in to to work in her practice.”
He said 5700 people now did not have a doctor; Dr Jonsson serviced two nursing homes, Indigenous patients with renal health issues, mental health patients, elderly patients and was a leading practitioner in relation to skin cancer and melanoma.
“I am not making any statements or assertions in relation to the facts of the case or the decision that was taken,” the Mayor said.
However, the punishment handed out would now deny the South Burnett community access to “a highly skilled and trained medical professional at a time when we haven’t got enough and our primary health care system is in crisis”.
Cr Scott Henschen, who said he was a patient of Dr Jonsson, said it was “the most ludicrous decision I’ve ever seen or heard of”.
“That’s (affecting) roughly 20 per cent of our population,” he said.
Cr Henschen said he had stated he was a patient because “this whole thing has been quite vindictive so I do not want a person in this organisation targeted as well”.
After two more councillors indicated they were also patients of Dr Jonsson, the Mayor sought advice from CEO Mark Pitt on whether they had a conflict of interest.
The meeting was adjourned briefly to allow councillors to discuss matters with the CEO.
At the resumption, Cr Henschen did not rejoin the meeting.
Cr Kirstie Schumacher and Cr Gavin Jones said they had declarable conflicts of interest but the remaining councillors voted they could participate and vote.
A motion, moved by Mayor Otto stated that:
“Council delegate authority to the Chief Executive Officer to act immediately:
- In engaging with Dr Jonsson to obtain details of her suspension imposed by the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) and the Medical Board of AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency) on behalf of the South Burnett Regional Council,
- Requesting an urgent review of the decision to suspend Dr Jonsson for a period of three months,
- Requesting reconsideration of the Tribunal decision to prohibit Dr Jonsson from supervising international, overseas-trained doctors and registrars,
- Articulating the primary health care crisis being experienced by our region and the impact of the suspension against Dr Jonsson on the health and the welfare of our residents.
- The Mayor meet with State and Federal Members, the Deputy Premier and State and Federal Ministers of Health conveying Council’s concerns and requesting support for Council’s call for a review of this decision.”
The motion was seconded by Cr Danita Potter and approved 6-0.
Mayor Otto emphasised “for the media and community” that Council was not questioning or challenging the integrity or the findings of QCAT, or any actions taken by the Medical Board of AHPRA.
“What Council is doing here as the Local Government Authority is raising concerns about the period of the suspension of Dr Jonsson and about the inability of Dr Jonsson to supervise doctors for two years,” he said.
“It is not Council saying that we take issue with the decision, the finding. We take issue with the timeframe with which Dr Jonsson will be out of practice and unable to supervise and, most importantly, the impact that will have on our community.”
* * *
The May judgment was the second time Dr Jonsson faced disciplinary proceedings in QCAT.
In 2017, she was fined $2000 and had her registration suspended for 12 months. However, the penalty was wholly suspended for 12 months, leaving Dr Jonsson free to practise under certain conditions.
In the latest matter, Judge John Allen KC rejected a submission from Dr Jonsson that a $15,000 fine would be more appropriate given the impact a suspension would have on her patients.
“The Tribunal acknowledges that any suspension of the respondent’s registration will have an adverse effect on the availability of medical services in Kingaroy. However, such a factor does not mitigate the seriousness of the respondent’s conduct,” the Judge wrote.
The Health Ombudsman had sought a six-month suspension.
The judgment also noted that Dr Jonsson had trained and supervised medical students and registrars for most of her career.
“Given the deficiencies in her understanding of, and commitment to, ethical obligations as outlined in the Code, the Tribunal is of the view that the respondent should be prohibited from supervising medical students and registrars. The risk of her ethical misguidance outweighs any benefit her expertise would bring,” Judge Allen wrote.
- External link: Health Ombudsman v Clara Isabella Johanna Jonsson
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