Patients uneasy at Scientology invitation
A Scientologist doctor has invited patients at her ‘‘holistic’’ medical practice to the grand opening of the church’s new $16 million national headquarters.
Dr Helen Smith of the Auckland Holistic Centre sent out an email inviting patients to attend the January 21 ceremony, at a restored heritage building in central Auckland.
Several patients are understood to have felt the invitations were inappropriate.
Smith declined to comment, referring inquiries about the opening to Sei Kato, a spokesperson for the Church of Scientology in Australia and Asia Pacific.
Kato said the opening was for ‘‘members of the Church and their friends and family’’.
Auckland University law professor Bill Hodge said that if the contact details of patients had been used to send them an invitation to something unrelated to their medical care, then it could constitute a breach of the Privacy Act.
‘‘The patients can lay a complaint with The Privacy Act clearly states that you can’t use information collected, for example, by a medical practice, and spam those patients to promote something else entirely. the Privacy Commissioner if they feel aggrieved,’’ said Hodge.
‘‘The Privacy Act clearly states that you can’t use information collected, for example, by a medical practice, and spam those patients to promote something else entirely.’’
It’s understood the church is expecting a large number of Scientologists from New Zealand and overseas to attend the opening later this month, but the guest list is unlikely to include the most famous followers such as Tom Cruise and John Travolta.
Dr Smith says she is medical doctor practising holistic medicine. On her website, she posts links to other forms of Scientology treatments such as drug rehabilitation services, school reading programmes and dianetics, a system developed by the founder of the Church of Scientology, L. Ron Hubbard.
She has been a Scientologist for several decades.
The Auckland Church of Scientology is scheduled to be unveiled on January 21, almost nine years after the heritage-listed building was bought for more than $10m in 2007. Restoration of the 90-year-old building cost millions more.