Medical student convicted for holding out as a surgeon

The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) has prosecuted a medical student for holding himself out as a registered medical practitioner in contravention of section 116 of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law 2010 (National Law). Quentin Geczy was a medical student at The University of Sydney and has never held registration as a medical practitioner under the National Law.

Geczy met a woman through an online dating platform in April 2023 and during their brief relationship sent the woman text messages in which he held himself out as a surgeon. In May 2023, he sent the woman a photo of a Yale University Arts degree that had been altered to look like a Doctorate in Medicine. Geczy met another woman through a different online dating platform after this relationship ended.

Throughout this second relationship, Geczy continued to hold himself out as a surgeon. He offered to write the woman a prescription for opioid medication on multiple occasions and sent the woman photos that implied he was working as a medical practitioner. He also provided medical advice to the woman’s flatmate. Geczy sent the woman a photograph of his student ID card in June 2023 — it had been altered to include the words “Doctor/Ortho. RMO” instead of “Student”.

Geczy pleaded guilty to three counts of holding himself out as a registered medical practitioner on 5 February 2025 and was sentenced in the Downing Centre Local Court of New South Wales. Geczy was convicted of all counts by Magistrate Covington, who imposed community corrections orders for each charge (of 12 months, 18 months and 18 months respectively), and fines totalling $5000. Geczy was also ordered to pay Ahpra’s legal costs of $7500.

Covington commented in sentencing that “deterrence is always a significant factor in relation to any prosecution of this nature …. in order to protect health and safety and protect the integrity of the [health] system,” also noting that as someone studying to become a medical practitioner, Geczy was “held to a higher standard.”

“Whether in a clinical context or a social situation, claiming to be a registered practitioner when you are not poses a serious risk to public safety,” Acting Ahpra Chief Executive Officer Kym Ayscough said. “Registration allows the public to check and be assured of the qualifications and background of those providing health services, and is crucial to upholding trust which is why we take complaints about holding out seriously.”

If you have concerns about whether an individual is registered, you can check the online Register of Practitioners maintained by Ahpra or call 1300 419 495.

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