‘Gross lack of care’: Herbalist barred after woman’s death

Shuquan Liu, a doctor who once treated former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, has been booted from the profession.

Dr Shuquan Liu. Picture: Rebecca Michael

EXCLUSIVE

A Chinese medical practitioner who treated a woman with cardiac problems with herbal tea before her death has been banned from practising for three years.

Dr Shuquan Liu describes himself as Australia’s leading Chinese herbalist and previously treated former PM Malcolm Turnbull and TV host Larry Emdur with his signature 101 Wellness program. The program involves fasting and drinking herbal teas.

Malcolm Turnbull says Dr Liu helped him lose 14 kilos in 2011. Picture: News Corp Australia

Last week, the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal heard a complaint from the Health Care Complaints Commission surrounding the death of a 41-year-old woman who was prescribed Dr Liu’s program in January 2018.

The woman had a heart condition and went to Dr Liu’s clinic to lose weight. She to the clinic on 16 occasions between January 10 and 31 while undergoing the program.

On February 2, she was admitted to St Vincent’s Hospital after suffering a heart attack and was found to have a potassium deficiency and cardiac arrhythmia. She died six days later.

The Commission argued they did not allege the 101 Wellbeing Program caused the woman’s death, but that Dr Liu failed to obtain “sufficient information” from the patient before prescribing her the program.

The tribunal heard how Dr Liu failed to obtain details about the woman’s heart health at the time and did not obtain any information from her GP or specialist regarding her heart condition.

Dr Liu claimed his treatment helped patients “feel healthier, lose weight, sleep better and get relief from chronic pain”. Picture: News Corp Australia

The tribunal also heard that during all 16 consultations, there was no examination of the patient’s tongue, pulse, blood pressure or heart rate or any indication that she was asked about her bowel movements.

Dr Liu said he did not do so as checking these vital signs were “Western diagnostic tools” and that he “only checked through the traditional Chinese medicine practice”.

He was found guilty by the tribunal of unsatisfactory professional conduct and misconduct as he practised Chinese medicine “significantly below the standard reasonably expected of a practitioner” and the program was not officially recognised in Chinese medicine.

Dr Liu describes himself as “Australia’s leading Chinese herbal practitioner”. Picture: News Corp Australia

The woman’s death was referred to the NSW State Coroner. Picture: News Corp Australia

In its decision, the tribunal stated that Dr Liu’s failures were “egregious” and amounted to a “gross lack of care”.

“Dr Liu appears to have expressed no real remorse and has demonstrated a complete lack of insight into the risks his 101 Wellbeing Program poses to patients,” the decision stated.

“Dr Liu appears to have continued to fail to recognise the risk to patients of undertaking his program.

“Further, Dr Liu appears to continue to believe in the efficacy of his program notwithstanding the expert evidence he has been provided over the course of the history of this matter which highlights its risks.”

The tribunal disqualified Dr Liu from being registered in the profession of Chinese medicine for three years.