A MELBOURNE doctor specialising in the treatment of Lyme disease says he is being harassed out of the profession.
The medic who came forward, on condition of anonymity, has been treating patients suffering the debilitating effects of Lyme disease at his inner-city clinic for decades.
But he may be forced to close the practice due to what he calls a campaign of intimidation by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency culminating in a forthcoming disciplinary hearing.
Senator John Madigan, who in November setup a senate inquiry into ‘Lyme-like illnesses’ in Australia, has slammed AHPRA’s conduct saying they were putting patient’s lives at risk by targeting doctors treating the disease.
“The medical orthodoxy in this country is a law unto itself,” Senator Madigan said.
“In relation to Lyme disease I am seeing a mafia-like approach to doctors at the cutting edge who are helping patients in a tangible way.
“The lives of Australians are at stake. Doctors treating Lyme disease in this country must be allowed to continue their vital work until a thorough investigation of this disease in this country is undertaken.”
The independent Victorian senator will today announce his backing for an inquiry into bullying in the medical profession.
However AHPRA has categorically rejected any suggestion of coercion saying that they are a regulator focused on professional standards and keeping the public safe.
Nicole Newton, spokeswoman for the Medical Board of Australia and AHPRA, told the Herald Sun:
“The Medical Board of Australia and AHPRA do not have a position on Lyme disease or any other clinical condition.
“The Board sets the professional standards it expects all registered medical practitioners to meet. It does not set clinical standards.
“The Board holds all registered medical practitioners to account against the standards in Good Medical Practice: A code of conduct for doctors in Australia.”
Senator Madigan said he had no doubt that doctors were being targeted by health authorities.
“Doctors who treat patients exhibiting Lyme disease are still being pursued by AHPRA — I have seen this first-hand,” he said.
“I have spoken to the doctors. I have spoken to their patients. Doctors are being put on restrictions or being threatened with deregistration if they treat Lyme disease in Australia and this is having a direct impact on patients’ health and lives.
“I have spoken with patients who say their health is deteriorating because their doctor is prevented from treating them.”
Lyme disease is a contentious issue in the medical community with many doctors doubting the existence of the tick borne disease in Australia.