Geoff Helisma
Many people have reacted angrily to the news that the Medical Council of NSW has temporarily suspended the registration of Iluka doctor David Alan Richards (Iluka Wellness Centre) following a decision by a Council s.150 (immediate action) panel.
Shared to the Iluka NSW Community – General Information and Noticeboard Facebook site, many comments about last week’s story lamented his suspension.
“Now our village has no doctor,” one person posted, “… weeks to wait even if other doctors are willing to take new patients; worst thing to happen to our village and the elderly patients.”
Another posted: “I’ve been going to Dr Dave for at least 17 years and never had a problem; he has always helped out and now, thanks to some whingers, we have no doctor in town.”
Someone else wrote: “It has everything to do with Covid jabs he’s not comfortable with.
“He is only trying to protect his flock.
“It’s his belief and you have to love a person who stands behind his beliefs no matter what other people may think of you.”
Similar views are expressed on the Independent’s Facebook page.
“Sad day for Iluka,” one person posted. “We miss you Doc. It was so good to go to a doctor that was brave and honest and truly believed in the Hippocratic Oath.
“Hope you are able to come back soon; your community needs you.”
Another wrote, “We ILUKA are now stuffed, no bloody doc because he was looking out for us, trying to keep us safe.
“Now NO ONE has someone to help us, shame on the whingers, gossipers.
“Hope he’ll be reinstated, I for one need my doctor and medication.”
Meanwhile, there is a generic petition related to suspended doctors – Petition EN3375 – AHPRA edict silencing health practitioners – on the ‘Parliamentary Business’ page on the Parliament of Australia website.
As of Friday morning, there were 2524 signatures – the petition closes at 11.59pm (AEST) on October 27, 2021.
The petition reasons: “There is conclusive evidence (sighted on Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency documents) that AHPRA has silenced health practitioners from raising concerns about the Covid-19 vaccine, and from raising all related concerns about this experimental gene therapy (called a vaccine).
“There is also conclusive evidence that health practitioners have been threatened with dismissal, and with removal from practice, if they raise their concerns publicly and go against the main narrative.”
The petition requests: “We therefore ask the House to remove the AHPRA edict and allow all health practitioners the freedom to speak honestly and openly about their concerns.
“This is a matter of public safety and ethical obligation.
“There is growing global concern about the short, medium and long-term effects of the Covid-19 vaccine.
“Removing the AHPRA edict would also allow open debate about the other possible ways of treating Covid-19.”
The Independent was unable to contact Dr Richards.