A male nurse has been banned from practicing for two years after being found guilty of spiking a woman's tea with THC, the psychoactive component of cannabis. The New South Wales Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) issued the order against Euihyuk Byun on June 18. The decision followed legal action initiated by the Health Care Complaints Commission (HCCC) on March 4, 2024.
According to the tribunal, Byun met the woman at The Surf House backpacker hostel in Byron Bay on the evening of December 15, 2022. Upon learning she was feeling unwell, Byun identified himself as a nurse, examined her throat, and offered to make her a cup of tea, stating it contained honey. However, he had laced the drink with THC.
The woman awoke around 11:30 p.m. feeling her heart racing, confused, and high. She approached the hostel reception in distress, reporting her symptoms to staff. Byun initially claimed the drink contained only honey but later admitted to adding THC.
She was transported to Byron Bay Hospital by ambulance, where tests confirmed the presence of THC in her system. The woman reported the incident to the police the following day. In 2024, Byun was charged with giving a person a drink containing an intoxicating substance with intent to cause harm. He pleaded guilty, was convicted, and received a two-year Community Correction Order and a $1,500 fine.
Byun informed the tribunal that his cannabis use had escalated to three times per week by 2016, becoming problematic. He stated that his judgment was severely impaired by his own cannabis use at the time of the offense, attributing it to cannabis use disorder stemming from unresolved childhood trauma and neglect.
The tribunal also heard that Byun allegedly made false and misleading statements to the Nursing and Midwifery Council of NSW on July 3, 2023, claiming he had never used illicit drugs. He acknowledged these statements were inaccurate, explaining he had not yet found the clinical support to address the issue at that time.
The tribunal found that Byun had breached the trust placed in him as a registered nurse by administering an intoxicating substance without the woman's knowledge or consent. The tribunal disqualified Byun from nursing registration for two years and prohibited him from providing any health services for the same period. The tribunal noted that had Byun remained registered, his license would have been cancelled.
Byun expressed deep remorse for his actions, stating, "I am deeply sorry for the harm I caused [the woman]. I am sorry for the damage I caused to the nursing profession and to the public's trust in it." He added that he would "turn back time" if possible and that he takes full responsibility for his actions. He is currently seeking volunteering opportunities.