KEY POINTS:
A Whangarei clinical psychologist will have no action taken against him by his professional body after his third drink-driving conviction.
The Psychologists Board investigated Garry Huingahau McFarlane-Nathan, a clinical psychologist who works for ACC treating head-injury patients, after he was convicted in Whangarei District Court in February.
Mr McFarlane-Nathan was stopped on State Highway 1 at Ruakaka in January after a motorist complained about his driving. He later admitted to driving with excess breath alcohol.
Mr McFarlane-Nathan had 525mcg of alcohol per litre of breath. The legal limit is 400mcg. He was sentenced to 250 hours' community work, lost his driving licence for 12 months and a final warning was placed on his file.
Board chairwoman Lois Surgenor said its professional complaints committee decided the convictions did not bring discredit to the profession or affect Mr McFarlane-Nathan's ability to practise.
She said the committee did not believe any discredit had reached the threshold for any further action to be taken, and was satisfied Mr McFarlane-Nathan had put appropriate mechanisms in place to deal with the issue.
Dr Surgenor said a hearing in itself was fairly stressful, and Mr McFarlane-Nathan also had to bear the costs of appearing before the committee, the conviction itself and the court case.
ACC put its own inquiry into the convictions on hold during the Psychologists Board investigation.
ACC lead media adviser Stephanie Julian said the corporation was now reviewing all relevant information.
"In these circumstances we need to seriously consider the impact on our clients, particularly those in a remote area where practitioners with this level of specialised skill are very rare."
- NORTHERN ADVOCATE
