SACAT disqualifies paramedic Robert Wayne Bevan for two years for patient relationship

A paramedic has been deregistered and disqualified for two years for a sexual relationship with a patient involving at least 1746 texts and 190 phone calls over two months.

A paramedic who begun a sexual relationship with a patient after exchanging more than a thousand text messages with her has been deregistered and disqualified from practising for two years.

Robert Wayne Bevan was working for a private patient transport company when he met the woman in August 2019.

He and a co-worker transported the patient from one country town to another for medical treatment and then back to her home.

In a judgment handed down in July, but published online over the weekend, the South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal said the patient was known for “manipulative behaviour”.

“These included diverting health workers from their duties to other activities, seeking inappropriate health interventions from them, or offering or requesting sexual behaviours,” the Tribunal wrote.

“(The paramedic) was advised of these matters. He was instructed that his only role was to drive the ambulance and let his female co-worker attend to the patient.”

However, Bevan got the patient’s phone number at the end of the trip and begun texting with her.

The paramedic was working for a private company when the incident happened. Picture: NCA NewsWire

The Tribunal heard that in the span of two and a half months the pair exchanged at least 1746 texts and had at least 190 phone conversations.

The communications quickly showed that Bevan wanted to develop a relationship and the Tribunal heard that the patient was staying at his house at least two nights a week in October.

The Tribunal ruled that their relationship was “sexual and intimate”.

Bevan was suspended from his job when a complaint was made that he was dating the patient and later resigned from the role of paramedic.

When interviewed by the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Authority, Bevan lied and said communication had been initiated by the patient and they were not in a relationship until September, after he had resigned.

The Tribunal was scathing of both Bevan’s actions and his subsequent lies to investigators.

“(Bevan) took advantage of his position as a paramedic to pursue an inappropriate relationship with a patient whom he knew to be vulnerable,” the Tribunal concluded.

“He acted in furtherance of his own desires and needs without due regard for his professional responsibilities.”

The Tribunal deregistered Bevan and disqualified him for reapplying to work as a paramedic for two years from July this year.

Bevan indicated to the Tribunal he no longer wished to work as a paramedic but wanted to continue volunteering with the Red Cross and helping them transport patients.

Originally published as SACAT disqualifies paramedic Robert Wayne Bevan for two years for patient relationship