Dr Mehdi Khalighimonfared – Medical Practitioner – Reprimand and Conditions for Professional Misconduct and Unsatisfactory Professional Conduct

13 July 2022

The Health Care Complaints Commission prosecuted a complaint against medical practitioner Dr Mehdi Khalighimonfared before the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (‘the Tribunal’). The allegations related to Dr Khalighimonfared’s prescribing of Schedule 8 drugs to a number of patients between 2016 and 2019 while working at various medical practices in NSW. It was alleged that Dr Khalighimonfared:

• failed to properly assess patients prior to prescribing Schedule 8 drugs
• failed to make timely referrals when prescribing Schedule 8 drugs
• prescribed Schedule 8 drugs which did not accord with the recognised therapeutic standard of what was appropriate in the circumstances
• prescribed Schedule 8 drugs in circumstances not clinically appropriate in the circumstances
• failed to recognise and respond appropriately to drug-seeking behaviour.

In its decision of 11 July 2022, the Tribunal found the majority of the complaint proven and found Dr Khalighimonfared guilty of unsatisfactory professional conduct and professional misconduct.

The Tribunal imposed a reprimand as well as a number of conditions on his registration.

The full decision can be found here: NSW Caselaw.

Further Information

For further information, contact the Executive Officer of the Health Care Complaints Commission, on 9219 7444 or send an email to media@hccc.nsw.gov.au.

The information in this media release is correct at the time of publication. Orders may change; for example, conditions may no longer apply. For current information regarding the status of a registered health practitioner, including any conditions that currently apply, please check the National Register at www.ahpra.gov.au.