Podiatrist Stephen Ross McMurray practised while unregistered

The Melbourne podiatrist who did more than 10,000 consultations while being unregistered and without insurance.

A podiatrist from Melbourne’s east has fronted VCAT after racking up more than 10,000 consultations while being unregistered and uninsured.

Over a five-year period, Stephen McMurray undertook 11,796 consultations, and drew in a gross figure of $879,000 in fees, VCAT was told.

Mr McMurray reported himself to the Podiatry Board of Australia at the end of 2017.

As well as practising without being registered, Mr McMurray also went through various periods of time without professional indemnity insurance, “clearly placing patients at risk in terms of liability”.

Mr McMurray represented himself during the hearing, only speaking to agree with the propositions put forward by the Podiatry Board, to answer tribunal questions, and to offer an apology.

“I really would like to formally apologise,” Mr McMurray said.

“There is no reasonable explanation for such a bizarre turn of events, it should have been handled better.”

“This was a ridiculous mistake that compounded with my avoidance of the situation.”

Barrister Phil Cadman appearing for the Podiatry Board took Mr McMurray’s apology and responsibility into consideration during the hearing.

“Remorse and insight are relevant, and those are two things the respondent seems to express in his statement and in his presence here today,” Mr Cadman said.

VCAT member Jonathan Smithers also considered Mr McMurray’s apology, as well as the context of Mr McMurray’s mental health.

“The tribunal has read your personal statement, and the statement of your treating psychiatrist and we do acknowledge the great difficulties that you’ve faced over that period,” Mr Smithers said.

After having his registration reinstated by the board in late 2018, Mr McMurray said he had ceased practising three years later in August 2021 due to mental health issues, which also compounded his issues with re-registration between 2012 and 2017.

“While we can recognise the very unfortunate impacts on people, it is our primary task to assess the impact it has on people and the reputation of the profession,” Member Smithers said.

The tribunal agreed that Mr McMurray would be suspended from practice for six months, with a conditional agreement regarding his insurance, should he want to practice again, that includes a four-year review period.