A Taranaki nurse has been deregistered for making derogatory comments against Māori on social media and continuing to work on a suspended registration.
Deborah Kathryn Hugill also walked out during a karakia, performed to close proceedings against her, Stuff reports.
During the second day of proceedings at the Novotel Hotel in New Plymouth on Wednesday, the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal found two charges of professional misconduct against Hugill.
The first of the two charges related to comments made on a New Zealand Nursing Organisation public Facebook page in May 2019. When commenting on a news article regarding Māori voices missing from a mental health and addictions inquiry, Hugill described Māori nurses as lazy, cunning and underhanded. She also said they received unfair handouts and made claims against former employers and Māori colleagues.
The derogatory comments attracted complaints and resulted in a hearing by the Nursing Council. Hugill's practicing certificate was formally suspended on July 17, 2019, Stuff reports.
However, Hugill continued to work a further 13 shifts for a rest home, Heritage Lifecare at Elizabeth R Lifecare in Stratford, and Telford Lifecare in Merrilands, despite her suspended registration - resulting in a second charge.
"The practitioner failed to show a sustained and genuine understanding or remorse for her highly offensive and racist comments," tribunal chair Maria Dew QC said, as reported by Stuff, noting that Hugill's conduct fell below the expected standard of any health professional.
As a penalty, Hugill's registration has been cancelled. She has also been censured and ordered to pay 15 percent of the costs of the hearing, a total of $8362.95.
Hugill can reapply for her practising certificate in two years, but with strict requirements. If she chooses to do so, she would have to complete a cultural confidence in nursing course, as well as an ethics and code of conduct course approved by the New Zealand Nursing Council. She would be required to pay for the programmes.
Mana whenua have been acknowledged for their contribution to the hearing, according to the outlet, including a karakia to formally close the proceedings on Wednesday. Hugill left the room during the prayer.
According to Stuff, Hugill said she regretted the comments during Tuesday's hearing, but defended them as not being racist as they came from her personal experience.
