Hastwell v Health Care Complaints Commissioner [2020] NSWSC 728

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Hastwell v Health Care Complaints Commissioner [2020] NSWSC 728 Hearing dates: 16 May 2019 Date of orders: 12 June 2020 Decision date: 12 June 2020 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Rothman J Decision: (1) Extend time for the filing of the Summons to the date upon which it was filed, namely, 30 November 2018; (2) Summons dismissed; (3) The plaintiff shall pay the defendant's costs of and incidental to the proceedings. Catchwords: ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – Health Care Complaints Tribunal – complaint against psychiatrist for unfavourable medico-legal opinion – decision and review decision not to investigate complaint – Procedural Fairness not owed to complainant – any lack of procedural fairness cured by Review – Bias – doctrine of necessity – preliminary assessment to investigative power – relevant considerations – illogicality – distinct from merit appeal – unreasonableness – no jurisdictional error – no error of law. Legislation Cited: Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), ss 55, 56, 80, 118, 119 Health Care Complaints Act 1993 (NSW), ss 3A, 12, 16, 19, 20, 20A, 21A, 23, 28, 28A, 39, 40, 43 Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), ss 23, 65, 66, 69, 69B, 70 and 75 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), Part 59 Cases Cited: Ainsworth v Criminal Justice Commission (1992) 175 CLR 564; [1992] HCA 10 Annetts v McCann (1990) 70 CLR 587; [1990] HCA 57 ASIC v Farley (2001) 51 NSWLR 494; [2001] NSWSC 326 Calvin v Carr [1980] AC 574; (1979) 1 NSWLR 1 Carrascalao v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (2017) 252 FCR 352; [2017] FCAFC 107. CPCF v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (2015) 255 CLR 514; [2015] HCA 1. Director-General, Department of Trade and Investment, Regional Infrastructure and Services v Lewis (2012) 301 ALR 420; [2012] NSWCA 436 Dranichnikov v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (2003) 77 ALJR 1088; [2003] HCA 26 Makita (Australia) Pty Ltd v Sprowles (2001) 52 NSWLR 705; [2001] NSWCA 305 Peko-Wallsend Ltd v Minister for Aboriginal Affairs (1986) 162 CLR 24; [1986] HCA 40 Sankey v Whitlam (1978) 142 CLR 1; [1978] HCA 43 Sullivan v Department of Transport (1978) 20 ALR 323; [1978] FCA 48 Swift v SAS Trustee Corporation (2010) 6 ASTLR 339; [2010] NSWCA 182 The Honourable Daniel Thomas McVeigh v Willarra Pty Ltd (1984) 2 FCR 587; [1984] FCA 421 Twist v Randwick Municipal Council (1976) 136 CLR 106; [1976] HCA 58 Texts Cited: The American Psychiatric Association, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed, 2013) ("DSM-5") Category: Principal judgment Parties: Haydyn Gary Hastwell (Plaintiff) Health Care Complaints Commission (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Haydyn Gary Hastwell (self-represented) B Tronson (Defendant)