A prominent Dunedin eye surgeon, Deepak Gupta has been issued an infringement notice and fined $4000 by the Ministry of Health today for seeing patients while unvaccinated.
In a statement released today, the Ministry said Dr Gupta was issued the notice for breaching clause 7 of the COVID-19 Public Health Response (Vaccination) Order 2021, following complaints investigated by the Ministry.
Health practitioners, including medical doctors, can only offer in-person health services if they are vaccinated for COVID-19 in accordance with the Order.
At the time of offending, Dr Gupta was registered as a medical practitioner with the Medical Council of New Zealand, and was working as Ophthalmologist at Dunedin Hospital, Southern DHB. He is also listed as a Consultant Ophthalmic and Oculoplastics Surgeon at Penuel Eye Clinic, and as one of the consultants at Dunedin’s Blossom Clinic.
Dr. Gupta graduated from Manchester Medical School in the UK before going on to do post-graduate training to become an eye specialist, specialising in Oculoplastics. He is also reported to have “extensive experience in working in the mid-face area, dealing with lumps and bumps, watery eyes, droopy eyelids and droopy brows, and eyelid reconstruction.”
Dr Gupta’s registration was cancelled at his own request as at 25 January 2022, which means he is no longer able to practice as a medical practitioner in New Zealand.
Earlier in January this year, Medical Council removed North Canterbury GP, Jonie Girouard’s from the register at her own request after she was issued with a $300 infringement notice for breaching the Covid-19 Public Health Response Act. Girouard was investigated by the Ministry of Health after allegations of “issuing bogus exemptions and coaching people on how to use them emerged.”
Initially the infringement fee was set at $300, but subsequently revised to $4000.
