Auckland doctor struck off

- 1 February 1992

PA Wellington

An Auckland ‘doctor has been struck off the medical register for “disgraceful conduct”, the Medical Council said yesterday.

Dr Matthew. Holder Tizard, a registered medical practitioner who also practised alternative medical theories, allowed “grave and at times life-threatening deterioration” in the health of seven patients, the council said.

Five charges were laid against Dr Tizard by a council committee after the patients had complained of deficient diagnosis and treatment. On four charges, Dr Tizard was found guilty of professional misconduct.

“He did not attempt to use orthodox methods of differential diagnosis, although he knew that at least six of the complainants had had a previous diagnosis of a significant medical condition, and he had discontinued their orthodox medication,” the council said.

It said the hearing had not been an inquiry into the use of alternative methods such as homoeopathy, acupuncture, nor treatments for pesticide toxicity.

“However, we do not believe that a registered medical practitioner can rely solely on these methods in the face of life-threatening deterioration in 4” complainant’s condition” A council said.

PA Tauranga Many Bay of Plenty people owed their lives to an Auckland doctor who was struck off the medical register last week, a Tauranga Toxins Action Group spokesman said yesterday.

A Medical Council tribunal hearing on Friday found Matt Tizard, a doctor who uses alternative treatments such as homeopathy, guilty of endangering the lives of several patients by failing to use conventional methods.

However, Mr Gary Barham said chemical sensitivity sufferers would be disappointed.

“It will certainly be a blow to those suffering from chemical sensitivity,” he said. “There is really no-one to turn to now.”

Mr Barham said the medical council was against people seeking alternative treatments, but Dr Tizard offered those as well as orthodox methods.

Most practitioners of alternative medicine had no formal medical qualifications, he said.

“From our experience his treatment is the only way for people to get on top of chemical sensitivity,” he said.- “For hundreds of Bay of Plenty patients it took Matt Tizard’s particular form of treatment to overcome their main illness and get most of the toxins out of their systems.”