An Australian optometrist has been disqualified for tampering with eye prescriptions in an apparent attempt to undermine a colleague. According to a BBC News report, a tribunal in Adelaide found that Ashok Bhoola tampered with 410 prescriptions. Many were returned as a result. The South Australia Civil and Administrative Tribunal did not provide a clear motive for the man's action. But the alterations caused his colleague to believe that she had made silly mistakes, it was report.
BBC News reports that the prescriptions – initially issued by the woman – were altered in 2015-16. Both she and Bhoola were working at a Specsavers outlet in the Adelaide suburb of West Lakes at the time.
"We found that the respondent did this deliberately without clinical justification and contrary to the interests of the patients," the judgement said. When the wrong readings were pointed out the woman, she "suffered a significant loss of confidence", the tribunal added.
But, BBC News reports, she kept records, and an investigation by the Specsavers franchise eventually concluded that Bhoola's login had been used to make the alterations.
He denied any involvement. The tribunal suspended his registration as an optometrist for a year.
[link url="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-54136615"]Full BBC News report[/link]