A controversial Urologist who had previously made headlines across the country for incompetence and unconventional practices has now shot into the spotlight once again following an incident which saw him suspended from duties at Mackay Base Hospital.
Dr Daryl Stephens was the first doctor to be arrested and charged with murder in 2000 when he allegedly helped his patient, Freeda Hayes, who had terminal kidney cancer, end her life in a palliative care hospice.
It took a Supreme Court jury just 10 minutes to acquit him in 2001.
Moving to West Australia and taking up a position in a Perth Hospital, Dr Stephens’ methods were once again thrown into question when he was fined for engaging in professional misconduct.
He then commenced work as a Urologist at Mackay Base Hospital in 2016 and, despite the findings of the tribunal in 2018, was allowed to continue working at the hospital, with lack of urological services cited as the reason he retained his position.
During his tribunal, it was heard that Dr Stephens mishandled a case in Perth which led to a cancer patient not being given pathology results for three months.
He was instructed to work under supervision for 12 months.
Four years later and Dr Stephens was once again in the spotlight when he was suspended from Mackay Base Hospital following hygiene concerns this week.
The hospital gave a brief statement saying that they have systems and processes in place to encourage staff and patients to speak up for safety.
“If there are concerns about the capacity of a clinician to provide safe care these reports are taken very seriously,” said the spokesperson.
“It is important for anyone involved to be provided with procedural fairness while the concerns are investigated.”
Image: Urologist Dr Darryl Stephens suspended from Mackay Base Hospital. Photo credit: The West Australian
