Ms Marissa Galanto – Registered nurse – Disqualification for professional misconduct

28 February 2022

The Health Care Complaints Commission prosecuted a complaint against registered nurse, Ms Marissa Galanto, before the New South Wales Civil and Administrative Tribunal (‘the Tribunal’). It was alleged that on 19 March 2019, whilst employed as a registered nurse at Opal Cardinal Freeman Aged Care Facility , Ms Galanto:

• Failed to administer three sachets of three different medications to three different patients, which included a prescribed restricted substance, Spironolactone.
• Inappropriately removed the three sachets of medications from the facility at the conclusion of her shift.  
• Between 4pm on 19 March 2019 and around 8am on 20 March 2019, had in her possession a prescribed restricted substance, Spironolactone, in contravention of section 16 of the Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act 1966.

It was also alleged that whilst working as a registered nurse at Heritage Aged Care, Summer Hill, Ms Galanto:

• Breached a condition imposed on her registration between 11 June 2019 and 19 August 2019, when she worked as a registered nurse without supervision.
• On 29 July 2019 failed to complete a workplace clinical assessment and failed to complete a medication knowledge written assessment as part of a performance assessment; and
• Was therefore not competent to practise as a registered nurse.

In February 2022 the Tribunal found the complaint proven and found Ms Galanto guilty of unsatisfactory professional conduct and professional misconduct. The Tribunal disqualified Ms Galanto from applying for registration for a period of two years. The Tribunal also found that had Ms Galanto been registered at the time of the hearing, the Tribunal would have cancelled her 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 02 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.