A Queensland doctor has been fined $30,000 after a tribunal found he committed professional misconduct by publishing confidential patient material, graphic medical images and offensive commentary in a self-published book based on his work at Toowoomba Hospital.
Lachlan Rathie, an anaesthetist who had worked at the hospital since 1995, published The Anaesthetic Picture Book in 2023. The 372-page book was described by its distributor as a collection of ECGs, X-rays, anaesthetic records, bizarre medical cases and “intra-operative oddities”. It also included references to novelty topics including “Kermit the Frog”, a “rat burger” and “Wolverine”.
But the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) ruled this week that some of the content crossed professional and ethical boundaries by exposing sensitive patient information and using commentary that was “demeaning, insensitive and disrespectful”.
Graphic patient cases triggered investigation
According to the tribunal judgment, one of the most concerning examples involved a photograph of a child’s genitalia linked to a medical condition where the testes had twisted around the spermatic cord. Another section reportedly contained inappropriate remarks about an object removed from a patient’s rectum.
The tribunal also referred to commentary written beside an unnamed patient’s medical chart stating: “The over-200kg club are almost always ‘easy’ intubations.”
The issue was first reported to the Office of the Health Ombudsman in October 2023 by Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service. Soon after, Dr Rathie received a show cause notice and was suspended from Toowoomba Hospital around October 26, 2023. He later resigned in January 2024.
Tribunal findings stated that copies of the book were not only sold publicly but also promoted inside the hospital. Posters advertising the book were reportedly displayed in the theatre tearoom, and a copy was placed in the hospital theatre room for staff access.
Only eight copies were sold — five in the United States and three in Australia — while Dr Rathie also ordered 15 personal copies for family, colleagues and friends.
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Doctor admitted he “completely got the tone wrong”
In written submissions referenced by the tribunal, Dr Rathie admitted he had “no reasonable explanation” for publishing sensitive and confidential information. He reportedly told investigators he was “naive and incredibly foolish” to believe obscuring patient details was enough to maintain privacy.
The tribunal noted he was “profoundly sorry” and had shown genuine remorse for the harm caused. However, the panel concluded the conduct still amounted to professional misconduct because patient dignity and confidentiality are central obligations in healthcare.
Australia’s medical regulator outlines strict professional expectations around patient privacy and ethical conduct for healthcare practitioners. More information is available through the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
The controversy has renewed debate around how medical professionals use patient material for educational, publishing or entertainment purposes, especially in the digital age where even limited distribution can permanently expose sensitive information.
Swikblog recently also reported on another major Australian healthcare concern involving patient safety and oversight: Sydney Dentist Virus Exposure Alert Raises Concern Over Hidden Health Risks.
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