New Zealand Doctors Speaking Out with Science
“It is never appropriate to force a population to have an experimental medical procedure.”
~Dr Alison Goodwin, GP
A good doctor, a moral doctor, a doctor invested in upholding their professional ethics of First Do No Harm would tell you both the benefits and risks of a treatment so you could make an informed decision.
But the ability for the public to make their own informed choice was all but impossible in New Zealand during Covid.
In fact, the official guidance from the Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ) specifically prevented doctors from counselling patients about both sides of the issue.
And if doctors did not sing the praises of the vaccine they were threatened, investigated and punished by MCNZ using censure, restrictions on how they could prescribe and practise medicine, and sent for formal re-education.
However, Dr Alison Goodwin, GP could not in good conscience succumb to the script MCNZ provided. Instead, she spoke up to offer the public additional information based on her informed, professional opinion.
In this exclusive four-minute video, hear Dr Goodwin’s concerns about the vaccine rollout, the top 3 principles governing her practice, and alternatives to the Medical Council’s narrative. Or if you’re more inclined to read, a summary and supplementary details can be found below.
A Doctor Standing For All
Dr Goodwin stands as a beacon of good moral judgement and ethics during a time when Covid mandates made that exceptionally challenging in New Zealand.
Her medical practice embraced the fundamental pillars of well-being: balanced nutrition, regular exercise, quality rest, and stress management – and yes, pharmaceuticals when required.
In addition to conventional practices, she has studied lifestyle medicine, which aims to get the foundations right to create health with less toxic burden on the individual. As such, she is qualified to counsel her patients on a range of treatment options in addition to pharmaceuticals.
The Basis of Concern
So, when the vaccine was being rolled out, Dr Goodwin was gravely concerned because it unequivocally went against her core principles.
“At medical school, three principles were ingrained into me. Number one, first do no harm. Number two, the right to informed consent. And number three, the right to decline a medical treatment.”
These fundamental principles of medicine were being assaulted, and she felt it ethically necessary to voice her concern. Issues that were clearly missing from the public conversation included:
- that the mRNA was a new technology not previously used in vaccines
- it was still in clinical trials until 2023
- the vaccine itself had only provisional consent with 58 conditions attached
- Pfizer was not liable if it did not work or induced adverse effects
- it was not studied in the pregnant or frail elderly population
- the long-term safety data was nonexistent
- it was impossible to predict treatment outcome or efficacy due to lack of data
Health creation, prevention and early treatment were completely missing from the initial narrative. In fact, it seemed conditions were created that harmed people physically, mentally and emotionally.
Masking, for example, created a low-oxygen toxic environment and was never proven to stop transmission. Neither was the two-metre rule. Add in social isolation, separating families during birth and death, and closing recreation areas and further trauma was created.
First Do No Harm
One bold assumption made when mandating the vaccine was that everyone was at equal risk. But Dr Goodwin knew that the risk was low for healthy people under 60 and those already naturally immune.
For a significant number of people, the risks of having the vaccine likely outweighed the benefits, making an all-encompassing mandate entirely unnecessary. Yet in the guideline sent to doctors by the Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ), the implication was that doctors would be disciplined for sharing that crucial information.
And there were other concerns that Dr Goodwin could not overlook…
Fully Informed Consent & Right to Decline
Regardless of personal opinions, doctors are sworn to uphold key principles. Yet few in New Zealand publicly advocated for patients’ rights or upheld their Hippocratic Oath.
That, in Dr Goodwin’s opinion, was absolutely unethical.
“If more New Zealand doctors don’t stand up and start defending these rights, I’ll be ashamed to call myself a doctor.”
But speaking up so boldly for patient rights wasn’t without repercussions.
The High Cost of Dissent
For speaking publicly in an effort to provide more information for New Zealanders, Dr Goodwin was sanctioned by the MCNZ. Due to a few complaints from members of the public and members of the medical profession (but not any patients) who had heard her speak, she was deemed a danger to public health and had her APC (Annual Practicing Certificate) suspended, an action usually reserved for the worst offenders.
The APC was suspended for 10 months in 2022 until the MCNZ decided to issue another one with conditions imposed. Conditions that meant she had to provide a disclaimer that her views were ‘minority views’ and that meant she was restricted in what she could prescribe to Ministry of Health guidelines only. “Dr Goodwin will manage the care of patients with Covid-19 in accordance with the local, applicable HealthPathways guidelines.”
While suspended, the MCNZ undertook a Professional Conduct Committee investigation which provided its report in Nov 2022. This recommended that Dr Goodwin undergo and pay for a 12-month re-education programme that addresses:
- communication skills;
- ethical and moral obligations toward treating her medical colleagues with respect;
- ability to provide balanced and considered information in a manner that is appropriate for the context of the discussion; and
- adherence to Medical Council of New Zealand’s statement on Unprofessional behaviour.
Dr Goodwin is appealing her suspension in the Wellington district court, and this is set to be heard at the end of June 2023, 16 months after filing the case.
It’s Time for a New Story
The human body is remarkably resilient, asserts Dr Goodwin, capable of withstanding numerous challenges when given the proper conditions.
A more proactive approach to disease that doesn’t solely rely on pharmaceuticals, and instead empowers people to take charge of their own health is a better long-term solution.
It’s time to get the government out of the consultation room, and here’s what you can do.
What You Can Do
When armed with information, it’s possible to increase health and resistance to infectious diseases.
Start by Asking Questions
Have the courage to look for contrary opinions, different views, and voices that have been censored on and off the internet. You don’t have to agree with everything you discover, but it will help you develop a greater perspective around the issues. Knowledge is how informed decisions are made.
Become Aware and Trust your Instincts.
Look out for repetitive mantras, like “safe and effective” and be curious about what is not being said.
Simple Adjustments
Small lifestyle changes that promote health can make an impact and are easily incorporated into your daily routine. Getting fresh air and sunshine, eating fresh fruits and vegetables, getting quality sleep, and some form of regular activity can make a significant difference to overall well-being.
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We ask for your help bringing awareness to the silencing that is still going on in NZ and waking up your fellow Kiwis and international friends. These stories aren’t limited to our borders. Similar things are happening to health professionals worldwide and together we can raise a united voice for change.
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