Dr. Michael Tait Facing Disciplinary Action


Stephen Barrett, M.D.
July 25, 2007

Dr. Michael Tait is facing disciplinary action by the Medical Board
of Queensland over his unconventional treatment of nearly 150 mostly terminally
ill cancer patients since 2002. He
has also been accused of failing to properly assess his patients’ conditions
and of overcharging—with some paying $20,000 for his treatment. In
2006, Tait pleaded guilty to nine counts of obtaining and selling human
growth hormone, which is a restricted drug. In 2007, as shown below,
he was ordered to stop selling or prescribing apricot kernels (or any
similar substance), immune response therapy,
hydrogen peroxide, photodynamic therapy, or ozone therapy. The current
board action could lead to his being struck from the medical register.


MEDICAL BOARD OF QUEENSLAND

Medical Practitioners Register

Personal Details

Name: Dr Michael John Tait
Registrant Number: 870956
Gender: M

Registration Category: General Registration
Registration Status: Current
Registration From: 1/07/2007
Registration Expiry: 30/06/2008

Address

Plaza Medical Centre
Doctors House
41/232 Napper Road
ARUNDEL
QLD 4214

Qualifications
Qualification
Institute
Year
Country
MB CHB NZ University of New Zealand 1957 New Zealand
MRCGP Royal College of General Practitioners United Kingdom
Conditions imposed on this registration

Date Imposed: 18/05/2007

  1. Dr Tait will cease selling or prescribing the Apricot kernels or any
    substance similar to apricot kernels, Immune Response Therapy, Hydrogen
    Peroxide, Photodynamic Therapy or Ozone Therapy.
  2. Dr Tait will comply with the Board’s
    unconventional Medical Practice guidelines (for any treatments not covered
    by point 1 of the conditions).
  3. Dr Tait will develop a consent form for
    each form of treatment he provides, a copy of which is to be provided to
    the Board, which details the treatments, risks, benefits and efficacy to
    patients for their signature prior to undergoing any unconventional medical
    treatment (for any treatments not covered by point 1 of the conditions).
  4. Dr Tait will maintain clinical records for each patient treated with
    unconventional medicine and include the following information in each of
    those records: The type and amount of substance used and the delivery method
    as well as the period of treatment.
  5. Dr Tait will allow a representative
    of the Board to inspect, take and/or copy his patient records at such time
    or times as the Board shall determine for the purpose of monitoring compliance
    with these conditions.
  6. At his expense, Dr Tait will provide the Board
    with copies of the clinical records of patients as nominated by the Board
    at such time or times as the Board shall determine for the purpose of monitoring
    compliance with these conditions.
  7. Dr Tait will allow a representative
    of the Board to inspect, take and/or copy his appointment diary at such
    times as the Board shall determine for the purpose of monitoring compliance
    with these conditions.
  8. Dr Tait will authorise Medicare Australia and
    private health insurance funds to provide information to the Board about
    his treatment of patients.
  9. Dr Tait will notify all colleagues/ employees/
    partners/ employer of these conditions within two days of receiving notice
    of the imposition of the conditions.
  10. Dr Tait must provide each colleague/employees/partners/employers
    with the attached information sheet and request that each colleague/employees/partners/employers
    sign and return to the board the acknowledgement of receipt of the information
    sheet.
  11. Dr Tait authorises colleague/employees/partners/employers to
    report any concerns to the Board that they may have in relation to Dr Tait’s
    unconventional medical treatments.
  12. Dr Tait will inform the Board, in
    writing, of the name/s of the person he has notified of these conditions.
  13. Dr Tait will authorise a representative of the Board to seek information
    from his colleagues/employees/ partners/employer at such times or at times
    as the Board shall determine for the purpose of monitoring compliance with
    these conditions.

These conditions will remain in place until the Board’s disciplinary proceedings
are finalised.

This page was posted on July 25, 2007.