Health Complaints and Patient Safety in Tasmania
Reviewed by the Commoner Law Editorial Team. Sourced from Commonwealth Acts of Parliament, federal regulations, and official government guidance. State-level information reflects each state's own Acts and court decisions. Written in plain language for general understanding — this is educational content, not legal advice. Our editorial standards
What is this right?
If you experience harm, negligence, or unprofessional conduct from a health practitioner, you have the right to make a complaint. At the federal level, health practitioner regulation is managed by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law.
AHPRA oversees 16 registered health professions, including doctors, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, psychologists, and physiotherapists. It can:
- Investigate complaints about registered practitioners
- Place conditions on a practitioner's registration
- Suspend or cancel registration for serious misconduct
- Refer matters to health professional tribunals
For unsafe medicines, medical devices, or therapeutic products, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) — under the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 — regulates what products can be sold in Australia and investigates adverse events. You can report side effects or defective products directly to the TGA.
Each state and territory also has a Health Complaints Commissioner (or equivalent) for complaints that fall outside AHPRA's scope, such as complaints about unregistered practitioners or health service delivery.
When does it apply?
- You receive care from a registered health practitioner that you believe was harmful, negligent, or unprofessional.
- You experience a side effect or adverse event from a medicine, vaccine, or medical device.
- You believe a health practitioner is impaired or poses a risk to patient safety.
- You discover a therapeutic product that may not meet safety standards.
What to Do If a Health Practitioner Has Harmed or Mistreated You in Australia
- Lodge a complaint with AHPRA online at ahpra.gov.au or by calling 1300 419 495. There is no time limit, but complaints are easier to investigate if made promptly.
- Report adverse events to the TGA — use the online reporting form at tga.gov.au for medicine side effects, vaccine reactions, or medical device problems.
- Contact your state or territory Health Complaints Commissioner for issues with unregistered practitioners or the health system generally.
- Keep detailed records — note dates, names, what happened, and save copies of medical records and correspondence.
- Request your medical records — you have the right to access them under the Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights.
- If you have suffered harm, consider seeking legal advice about medical negligence.
What should you NOT do?
- Don't delay reporting serious concerns — especially if you believe a practitioner is a risk to others.
- Don't stop taking prescribed medication because of a suspected side effect without first consulting a healthcare professional.
- Don't assume nothing can be done — AHPRA investigates thousands of complaints each year and takes action where needed.
- Don't fear retaliation — it is illegal for a practitioner to treat you differently because you made a complaint.
How Tasmania differs from federal law
Health complaints and patient safety in Tasmania are overseen by the Health Complaints Commissioner Tasmania, an independent statutory officer established under the Health Complaints Act 1995 (Tas).
- The Health Complaints Commissioner investigates complaints about health services and providers in Tasmania, including public and private hospitals, GPs, specialists, dentists, allied health providers, and aged care facilities.
- The Commissioner can conciliate disputes between patients and providers, investigate systemic issues, and make recommendations to improve the quality and safety of health services.
- The Tasmanian Health Service operates an internal patient safety and quality system for reporting and investigating clinical incidents across the public hospital network. Serious incidents are investigated through root-cause analysis.
- The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) handles registration and conduct complaints about individual health practitioners in Tasmania.
- The Coroner's Court of Tasmania investigates deaths that occur in healthcare settings where the cause is unexpected or the death is reportable under the Coroners Act 1995 (Tas).
Additional Steps in Tasmania
Lodge health complaints with the Health Complaints Commissioner Tasmania (healthcomplaints.tas.gov.au or 1800 001 170). For individual practitioner complaints, contact AHPRA (ahpra.gov.au or 1300 419 495). For patient safety concerns in public hospitals, contact the Tasmanian Health Service directly.
Relevant Law: Health Complaints Act 1995 (Tas); Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (Tasmania) Act 2010; Coroners Act 1995 (Tas); Tasmanian Health Service Act 2018 (Tas)
Common Questions
When does health complaints and patient safety apply?
You receive care from a registered health practitioner that you believe was harmful, negligent, or unprofessional.You experience a side effect or adverse event from a medicine, vaccine, or medical device.You believe a health practitioner is impaired or poses a risk to patient safety.You discover a therapeutic product that may not meet safety standards.
What should I do if I believe a doctor or nurse has acted negligently or unprofessionally in Australia?
Lodge a complaint with AHPRA online at ahpra.gov.au or by calling 1300 419 495. There is no time limit, but complaints are easier to investigate if made promptly.Report adverse events to the TGA — use the online reporting form at tga.gov.au for medicine side effects, vaccine reactions, or medical device problems.Contact your state or territory Health Complaints Commissioner for issues with unregistered practitioners or the health system generally.Keep detailed records — note dates, names, what happened, and save copies of medical records and correspondence.Request your medical records — you ha...
What mistakes should I avoid with health complaints and patient safety?
Don't delay reporting serious concerns — especially if you believe a practitioner is a risk to others.Don't stop taking prescribed medication because of a suspected side effect without first consulting a healthcare professional.Don't assume nothing can be done — AHPRA investigates thousands of complaints each year and takes action where needed.Don't fear retaliation — it is illegal for a practitioner to treat you differently because you made a complaint.
Health Complaints and Patient Safety in other states
Same topic, different jurisdiction. Pick the one that applies to you.