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Milan Brych

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Milan Brych (born 11 December 1939) is a controversial Czech-born cancer therapist.

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 controversial 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] and moved his practice to the Cook Islands.

The Cook Islands

Brych left New Zealand after his appeal against his disbarment failed and moved his controversial practice to Rarotonga, Cook Islands.[1][3] 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.

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.[2][5][6][7] In the time of his premiership, Bjelke-Petersen's wishes were usually implemented.[8] Then Deputy Premier Dr Llew Edwards, a general practitioner, strenuously opposed and ultimately defeated in Cabinet Bjelke-Petersen's invitation.[2][9]

Convictions and disappearance

Brych relocated his practice to Los Angeles. In 1980 he was convicted of practising medicine without a licence.[2][5][10] After serving three years of a six-year sentence he was deported and then disappeared from popular and media attention.[2] According to a Television New Zealand documentary aired on 26 August 2012[11] he is currently believed to be living in London.

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 d e 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. ^ . The Age www.theage.com.au. 13 May 1977 https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1300&dat=19770513&id=TQARAAAAIBAJ&sjid=m5IDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6688,3339385. Retrieved 25 September 2009. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. ^ Joh Bjelke-Petersen (1990). Don't you worry about that!. Angus & Robertson. p. 259. ISBN 0-207-16374-X.
  5. ^ a b Charlton, Peter (1983). State of Mind – Why Queensland is Different. Sydney: Methuen-Haynes. p. 250. ISBN 0-454-00631-4.
  6. ^ "Sir Joh was loathed and loved". Melbourne: The Age. 23 April 2005. Retrieved 29 September 2009.
  7. ^ Stephens, Tony (25 May 2005). "Farewell, Sir Joh, the great divider". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 19 October 2009.
  8. ^ "Ten worst decisions". The Courier-Mail. Archived from the original on 28 July 2008. Retrieved 19 October 2009. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ "Background to the release of the 1978 Cabinet Minutes" (PDF). 1 January 2009. Retrieved 25 September 2009.
  10. ^ "Laws and Regulations Governing Practitioners Who Offer Unconventional Cancer Treatments" (PDF). Princeton University www.princeton.edu. Retrieved 26 September 2009.
  11. ^ "Cancerman: The Milan Brych Affair". Television New Zealand. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
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