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A Salvation Army worker was sacked for making "potentially life-threatening" mistakes in administering medicine to homeless men.
Fred Pettersen was dismissed from his job at the Epsom Lodge in Auckland after several incidents in which he either dispensed medicine to the wrong person, or the incorrect dose.
He claimed his dismissal was unjustified and the Salvation Army's "vindictive" behaviour distressed him to the point he contemplated suicide.
Pettersen took his case to the Employment Relations Authority (ERA), seeking compensation of two years' wages and a clean reference, but lost his appeal last week.
His former manager, Major Brent Diack, told the ERA Pettersen had "quite consistent issues" in following procedures for administering medication at the 90-bed hostel for homeless men, many of whom suffer physical and mental ill-health.
"The mistakes were a serious safety concern and could be potentially life-threatening for clients," said Diack.
The authority heard that Pettersen dispensed the wrong dosage of blood-thinning drug Warfarin to a client in March 2006. About a fortnight later, he again dispensed the Warfarin at the wrong time.
Pettersen wrote to lodge director Major Raphael Aspeitia the day after the second incident: "It is with great regret that I write to confirm I wish you to go ahead with termination procedures, or whatever procedures you may have to undertake as a result of my accidentally giving [the client] his evening medication in the morning yesterday.
"I hope that [the client] does not suffer any side-effects and that his health is not affected by my error."
Aspeitia dismissed Pettersen by letter a week later. "We felt the safety of the residents of Epsom Lodge required that we terminate his employment," he told the ERA.
Major Lynette Hutson, the Salvation Army national manager for addiction and supported accommodation, said there was "no room for error" in administering medication.
"Getting medication wrong is serious. There i potential for serious harm."
Asked if the errors had caused side-effects, Hutson said, "nothing of significance".
She said the lodge provided support for men with a wide range of health issues, including diabetes, heart problems and mental health problems. Staff administering medication were trained before being allowed to work alone and overseen by a registered nurse.
The Herald on Sunday was unable to contact Pettersen for comment.
