Addiction counsellor exploited patient - report

The patient was an alcoholic and suffered depression, according to the report. File photo / Thinkstock

A counsellor at an addiction rehabilitation facility has been faulted for exploiting a patient for financial advantage.

Deputy Health and Disability Commissioner Theo Baker, in a report released this afternoon, found the counsellor and the facility breached the code of patients' rights. She has referred the counsellor, whom she does not name, to the commissioner's independent prosecutor to decide if proceedings should be taken against him.

The patient was an alcoholic and suffered depression. He spent 16 weeks at the facility in 2012. He was not given an individual recovery plan, was encouraged to stop taking antidepressants and, despite paying for weekly on-on-one counselling from the counsellor, received only three sessions.

The counsellor, who runs the programme at the facility, arranged for the man to do jobs for people from his church. The counsellor charged the man out at $21 an hour, but gave him only $15 an hour.

The man was receiving a Work and Income state benefit, most of which went to the facility.

"The counsellor assisted the man to incorporate a company," the commissioner's office said, "to avoid ramifications from being paid with regard to his WINZ benefit. The facility paid for the incorporation of the company, which resulted in the man owing a debt [of more than $300] to the facility which he was expected to repay or work off.

"The counsellor also provided residents with knives and provided access to air rifles."

Ms Baker said the counsellor held a position of trust and there was a big power imbalance in his relationship with the patient.

"The counsellor abused this position of trust when he took advantage of the man for his own ends - to provide financial advantage for the programme and, ultimately, for himself."

He had exploited the patient, Ms Baker said.

Providing access to knives and air rifles amounted to failing to provide treatment services with reasonable care and skill.