Brutal assaults on three women patients have led the New Zealand Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal to cancel registration of James Brent Henderson, a former Dunedin Hospital nurse.

In December 2009, he was being punished by the Auckland District Court and was asked to stay under custody for continuous nine months. It was also being publicized that he could apply for re-registration after a gap of one year.

He used to work as an ambulance officer, when he committed that crime over a period of nine months in 1999. Seeing the condition of all the three patients, Judge Philippa Cunningham blamed him with "very serious criminal offences".

Now when time has come for re-registration, Judge Philippa has called for the medical reports of all the patients and has asked to re-open the case. For now, it is very difficult that he would again get a chance to become nurse, as whatever he has done in the past is unacceptable in his profession.

The court had even asked him to visit rehabilitation centre. But, this suggestion was asked to be reconsidered by James advocate Anne O'Brien who said that James does not wish to be in this profession anymore, and would like to be an industrial nurse.

The tribunal is adamant on the court’s decision, and wants him to go through mental check up procedure. They also affirmed that they have no role in James decision of switching job.

It is totally up to him and it would not be the first time that he would switch the job as he has been in mental health, cardio-thoracic specialties, cardiology, coronary care and emergency nursing. Only difference would be that he would now completely shift to non-nursing area.

Tribunal has also asked him to pay $4230 as charge of tribunal prosecution.