A doctor who slapped a delirious 82-year-old ICU patient in the face hard enough to cause petechial haemorrhage has been reprimanded for professional misconduct.

The elderly woman had been recovering from surgery in the ICU of a Townsville hospital, and was disoriented, confused and at times screaming out over the evening of 4 August, 2014. 

Shortly before midnight, the doctor, working as the duty medical officer, tried to calm the patient and administered IV valium, according to a finding by the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

A few hours later, the doctor was called again, as the patient was agitated, and more medication was administered around 3.55am.