An aged care facility manager has been banned from working in health care after the industry watchdog found she drugged elderly residents with antipsychotic medication and accessed one former occupant’s bank account after they died. 

Darshee Ghowree, 58, also known as Sue Daby and Seedheeta Daby, was employed as the facility manager of Marsfield Residential Aged Care, in north Sydney, when a complaint was lodged against her in early 2021.

She was slapped with an interim prohibition order on March 4, 2021, which barred her from working or volunteering in health services while the Health Care Complaints Commission investigated the allegations. 

Now, the non-registered health practitioner has been permanently banned from the sector after the four-year investigation found she engaged in ‘serious misconduct’.

According to the decision, the HCCC found Ms Ghowree ‘failed to provide health services in a safe and ethical manner’ by breaching public health regulation in four ways.  

Firstly, the HCCC found Ms Ghowree administered Risperidone, or caused it to be administered, to residents without their knowledge or consent.

Risperidone is an antipsychotic medication that treats mental health conditions including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and some symptoms of autism. 

However, when the drug is used without a prescription, it can be considered a ‘chemical restraint’ – which is the use of medication to control a person’s behaviour by influencing their mood, emotions, and restricting their freedom of movement. 

Darshee Ghowree, 58, who also goes by the names Sue Daby and Seedheeta Daby, is the former facility manager of Marsfield Residential Aged Care

Darshee Ghowree, 58, who also goes by the names Sue Daby and Seedheeta Daby, is the former facility manager of Marsfield Residential Aged Care

The HCCC also ruled that Ms Ghowree breached Southern Cross Care’s medication management policies and procedures by having direct access to prescription-only drugs, including Risperidone, Seroquel, Midazolam and Diazepam.

Seroquel is another antipsychotic drug, while Midazolam and Diazepam are used to treat anxiety.

In the third breach, Ms Ghowree was found to have ‘used her position of authority to ensure that incidents involving residents were either not reported or the details in such reports were not correct’.

The commission’s investigation also found that she accessed a deceased resident’s bank account ‘without proper authority’ and ’caused two transactions to be made’ from their account. 

‘In providing health services in an aged care facility, Ms Ghowree was afforded significant trust by the residents and their families, to provide a safe environment and to deliver appropriate health care to residents who are particularly vulnerable,’ the decision reads. 

‘The Commission has determined that Ms Ghowree’s conduct poses a risk to public health and safety and that protective orders are required to protect the public. 

‘Ms Darshee Ghowree is permanently prohibited from providing any health services to any person in any capacity, either paid or voluntary.’ 

During her tenure at the aged care facility, Ms Ghowree appeared in marketing campaigns spruiking the benefits of the home and its offerings for elderly residents. 

Ms Ghowree is pictured posing for a SSC article written about the facility in 2018

Ms Ghowree is pictured posing for a SSC article written about the facility in 2018 

Marsfield Residential Aged Care (pictured) is a 61-bed facility catering to elderly residents in north Sydney with a range of care needs

Marsfield Residential Aged Care (pictured) is a 61-bed facility catering to elderly residents in north Sydney with a range of care needs

‘So many treat aged care homes as places to die. We turn that notion on its head with a commitment to making everyday life-affirming and positive,’ she told SCC’s magazine, Goodlife, in 2018.

‘Every day you are acknowledged for who you are. Your choices and happiness are our complete focus.

‘We get such a good turn up [at our family days]. It’s because people feel good coming here. They know their family member is getting all the attention and care they deserve.’ 

In 2020, she also issued a Catholic Religious Australia bulletin notice calling for volunteers to help assist at the ’61-bed facility’, which has a ‘mixture of residents’ from independent individuals to those with ‘dementia’ and needing ‘high care’. 

Southern Cross Care, which runs Marsfield Residential Aged Care, said that it supported the ruling, and that Ms Ghowree had not worked for them for years.

‘As a not-for-profit aged care provider who has been supporting older people for over 50 years, our sole purpose is to provide high quality care across all of our 40 communities in NSW & ACT, and we take this responsibility seriously,’ a spokesperson said.

‘We have been informed that the HCCC has made a final determination on Ms. Darshee Ghowre AKA Sue Daby resulting in an outcome of a banning order.

‘We strongly support this outcome, noting that Sue Daby’s employment was ceased in 2020, following our own internal investigation which included engaging police.

‘We have been actively engaging with the HCCC and supporting our staff, families and residents, whilst we awaited this important outcome.

‘We thank all the authorities that were involved in the investigation as it is important for all our aged care communities to be supported by people who have their best interests at heart.’