In Grant v Health Ombudsman [2024] QSC 146, the Supreme Court of Queensland addressed an application by Donald Archibald Grant, a psychiatrist, challenging the jurisdiction of the Health Ombudsman and the Director of Proceedings regarding complaints made against him related to a book he published. The complaints alleged misconduct stemming from the use of confidential information obtained during psychiatric assessments for court reports, which he disclosed in his publication. The central legal question was whether these complaints constituted health service complaints under the Health Ombudsman Act 2013 (Qld) and if the Ombudsman had the authority to address them. The court ruled that the Ombudsman did possess the requisite jurisdiction, affirming that the complaints fit within the definitions of "health service complaints" and constituted voluntary notifications under the National Law. The application was ultimately dismissed, with costs ordered to follow the event.
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