UNREGISTERED acupuncturist, Liya Rong, has been permanently barred from practising as a health professional by the NSW Health Care Complaints Commission (HCCC) after a patient sustained a pneumothorax following a treatment she provided.
A complaint was filed with the HCCC on 29 Apr 2019 by a former client of Rong, who was hospitalised for more than a week after receiving a 30-minute treatment for a headache at the Great Wall Chinese Medicine Clinic in Hurstville.
In a response to the HCCC Rong said she had studied at the Acupuncture and Massage Training Centre of the Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in China in 2003, however, the Commission questioned the authenticity of certificates relating to her qualifications.
The HCCC investigation found Rong had not registered as a Chinese Medicine practitioner with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, and therefore had no endorsement to practice as an acupuncturist.
The Commission ruled that the injury sustained by the patient occurred because Rong was "not competent and sufficiently qualified to practice acupuncture".
"Rong is permanently prohibited from providing acupuncture services and dry needling services, whether on a paid or voluntary basis, unless and until she satisfies the Commission that she has successfully completed an Approved Program of Study recognised by the Chinese Medicine Board of Australia," the HCCC ruling said.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 20 Feb 20
To see the full newsletter, see the embedded issue below or CLICK HERE to download Pharmacy Daily from 20 Feb 20
