Summarised by Centrist
A former TVNZ presenter and doctor, Samantha Bailey, has lost her medical registration and been fined after posting videos challenging mainstream COVID narratives.
Bailey’s content criticised vaccine efficacy and accused the medical industry of manufacturing epidemics for profit, racking up 18 million views along the way.
The Medical Council found her guilty of spreading misleading information after receiving 15 complaints.
Bailey refused to attend her disciplinary hearing, calling the tribunal a “kangaroo court” and claiming being struck off was a “badge of honour.”
She was ordered to pay over $148,000 in legal costs and fined $10,000. The tribunal ruled she had undermined New Zealand’s C response and brought “discredit to the medical profession.”
The Medical Council said doctors must ensure public statements are fact-based and cannot let personal beliefs influence medical advice.
According to journalist Jeremy Wilkinson, “The council has previously made it clear that while individuals have a right to their opinions, there was no place for anti-vaccination messages in professional health practice.”
While some of Bailey’s videos were removed by YouTube, others remain online. The tribunal found her comments fuelled distrust in experts leading the pandemic response. Bailey has not practised medicine since 2021 and cannot reapply for two years.
Editor’s note: We are not making any comment on this particular case but during COVID, the NZ Medical Council directed practitioners to promote the government’s COVID response. Meanwhile, government advertisements assured the public they would receive unbiased medical advice. Note that there is no reason to think the Medical Council has any more medical knowledge than the doctors they regulate, since they are not chosen for their knowledge.
Doctors who questioned official policies faced severe sanctions, despite uncertainty over the legal standing of the Council’s directive. A former Council member testified in court that he perceived the organisation’s culture as punitive and closed-minded.
Furthermore, countries like Switzerland, France, Denmark, and Florida reassess COVID mRNA vaccines due to safety concerns, and thousands of doctors sign the HOPE Accord calling for their suspension, but New Zealand’s mainstream media remains silent.
