Veteran nurse on drugs and fraud charges banned from practising
A veteran Queensland registered nurse has been banned from practising after she appeared in court on more than 50 charges including producing drugs, stealing, fraud and possessing opiates.
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A veteran Queensland registered nurse has been banned from practising after she appeared in court on more than 50 charges including producing drugs, stealing, fraud and possessing opiates or other drugs of dependence.
Debbie Lee Royal, who works from Southport on the Gold Coast, was slapped with the ban by the state’s Office of the Health Ombudsman (OHO) which announced it on their website on March 6.
It came weeks after Ms Royal had her charges mentioned in Southport Magistrates Court on February 4 and December 11.
She is facing charges including one count of produce dangerous drugs, one count of possess dangerous drugs, 16 counts of buy or possess highly restricted and addictive prescription drugs, 21 counts of stealing and 20 counts of fraud.
She is due back in court on April 1, and is not yet required to enter a plea.
“The Health Ombudsman took immediate registration action by suspending the registration of Debbie Lee Royal effective 6 March 2025,” the announcement states.
She was first registered in the profession in 2008, according to the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency website.
The decision will continue to have effect until the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal sets aside the decision or the OHO lifts the ban.
Originally published as Veteran nurse on drugs and fraud charges banned from practising
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