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Milan Brych

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Milan Brych (born 11 December 1939) is a Czech-born cancer therapist. He was removed from the New Zealand Medical Register in 1977 and in 1980 he was convicted of practising medicine without a licence in California.

Brych fled the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968, and arrived in New Zealand as a refugee. Claiming to have medical professional qualifications, Brych commenced work as a medical practitioner. After being removed from the register of NZ medical practitioners in 1977, he then relocated his cancer treatment practice to the Cook Islands. One of his most high profile proponents in the 1970s was the then Premier of Queensland Joh Bjelke-Petersen, who invited him to set up practice in Australia. Brych relocated to the USA, and in 1980 was convicted of practising medicine without a license. After serving part of his six-year sentence, he was deported.

History

Milan Brych (pronounced "brick") was born Vlastimil Brych on 11 December 1939 in Czechoslovakia.[1] After the 1968 Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia, he fled to Italy, then as a refugee arrived in New Zealand.[2] Brych claimed to have studied Medicine at the University of Brno. It was later revealed that at the time he claimed to have been studying, he was in fact in prison.[1]

New Zealand

After being accepted as a refugee, he obtained a position in radiotherapy at the Auckland General Hospital. In 1973[1] the faculty initiated questioning of his qualifications and his claimed "miraculous success" in cancer treatment. Brych was removed from the New Zealand Medical Register in 1974.[1]

The Cook Islands

Brych left New Zealand after his appeal against his disbarment failed and moved his practice to Rarotonga in the Cook Islands in March 1977.[1][3] His practice was supported by the Cook Islands' Health Minister Joe Williams, who arranged for medical supplies to be sent to him.[3] In May 1977 one of his patients died while returning to New Zealand.[4] In the leadup to the 1978 Cook Islands general election then-opposition leader Dr Tom Davis pledged that if elected he would not allow Brych to continue to practice.[5] When Davis was elected Prime Minister he immediately barred Brych from Rarotonga hospital.[6] His patients were sent home[7] and he was ordered not to return to the islands.[8]

A small cemetery, adjacent to the RSA (Returned Servicemen's Association) Cemetery in Rarotonga is reported as being nicknamed "the Brych-yard", as it contains the graves of many of Brych's patients.[9]

Queensland, Australia

I was criticised in the same way for my support of cancer therapist Milan Brych... I was the only politician in Australia who said he ought to be given a chance to show his therapy worked. Like Stephen Horvath's car, his methods may yet be vindicated.

In 1978, then Premier of Queensland Joh Bjelke-Petersen asked Brych to set up practice in Queensland.[11][12][13][14] In the time of his premiership, Bjelke-Petersen's wishes were usually implemented.[15] Then Deputy Premier Dr Llew Edwards, a general practitioner, strenuously opposed and ultimately defeated in Cabinet Bjelke-Petersen's invitation.[2][16]

Convictions and disappearance

Brych relocated his practice to Los Angeles. In September 1980 he was arrested for conspiracy, fraud, and practising medicine without a licence.[17] He was released after no charges were laid, but re-arrested in December.[18] In June 1983 he was found guilty of 12 counts of malpractice and grand theft[19] and in July 1983 he was sentenced to six years imprisonment.[20] After serving three years of his sentence he was deported to New Zealand[21] and then disappeared from popular and media attention.[2]

According to a Television New Zealand documentary aired on 26 August 2012[22] he was living in London. In 2015, The Cook Island News claimed he was living in Switzerland under a different name.[23]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "The University of Melbourne Archives: Wright, Sir Roy Douglas" (PDF). University of Melbourne. Retrieved 8 September 2009.
  2. ^ a b c O'Malley, Brendan (8 May 2009). "Joh Bjelke-Petersen fooled by Milan Brych". The Courier-Mail www.news.com.au/couriermail. Retrieved 25 September 2009.
  3. ^ a b "'Cancer Expert Not Listed'". Papua New Guinea Post-Courier. 13 May 1977. p. 6. Retrieved 23 July 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ "Brych patient dies". The Canberra Times. 18 May 1977. p. 12. Retrieved 23 July 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ "ELECTION IN THE COOK ISLANDS: Controversial cancer specialist's future hangs in the balance". The Canberra Times. 30 March 1978. p. 2. Retrieved 23 July 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "BAN ON HOSPITAL USE: Cooks PM moves against Brych". The Canberra Times. 27 July 1978. p. 5. Retrieved 23 July 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ "Brych patients sent home from Cook Islands". The Canberra Times. 19 August 1978. p. 11. Retrieved 23 July 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ "Brych 'not to return to islands'". The Canberra Times. 20 September 1978. p. 8. Retrieved 23 July 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ^ "Graves of Milan Brych's cancer patients washed away". Radio New Zealand. 21 October 2015. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  10. ^ Joh Bjelke-Petersen (1990). Don't you worry about that!. Angus & Robertson. p. 259. ISBN 0-207-16374-X.
  11. ^ "Premier in support of Brych clinic". The Canberra Times. 1 April 1978. p. 1. Retrieved 23 July 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. ^ Charlton, Peter (1983). State of Mind – Why Queensland is Different. Sydney: Methuen-Haynes. p. 250. ISBN 0-454-00631-4.
  13. ^ "Sir Joh was loathed and loved". Melbourne: The Age. 23 April 2005. Retrieved 29 September 2009.
  14. ^ Stephens, Tony (25 May 2005). "Farewell, Sir Joh, the great divider". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 19 October 2009.
  15. ^ "Ten worst decisions". The Courier-Mail. Archived from the original on 28 July 2008. Retrieved 19 October 2009.
  16. ^ "Background to the release of the 1978 Cabinet Minutes" (PDF). 1 January 2009. Retrieved 25 September 2009.
  17. ^ "Yanks land cancer man on treatment". Papua New Guinea Post-Courier. 26 September 1980. p. 7. Retrieved 23 July 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  18. ^ "Milan Brych charged, in jail". The Canberra Times. 3 December 1980. p. 7. Retrieved 23 July 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  19. ^ "Brych guilty of malpractice". The Canberra Times. 10 June 1983. p. 4. Retrieved 23 July 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  20. ^ "Brych jailed for six years". The Canberra Times. 29 July 1983. p. 4. Retrieved 23 July 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  21. ^ "Brych to return to NZ". The Canberra Times. 22 August 1986. p. 7. Retrieved 23 July 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  22. ^ "Cancerman: The Milan Brych Affair". Television New Zealand. Archived from the original on 31 August 2012. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
  23. ^ "Who is Milan Brych?". Cook Islands News. 17 October 2015. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
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