Chiropractor found guilty of ‘failings’ by regulator

A CHIROPRACTOR has been found guilty of “unacceptable professional conduct” by a regulator following a catalogue of failings.

Benjamin Mathew, of Cardiff Bay Chiropractic, on West Bute Street, was found to have made “wideranging and fundamental” errors in his clinical practice.

These included making false claims about the benefits of using a chiropractor; giving patients inappropriately long courses of treatment; and performing X-rays which caused unnecessary exposure to radiation.

He was also found to have overtreated patients when they should have been referred for surgery and he inappropriately disclosed personal and confidential information.

Following a hearing of the Professional Conduct Committee of the General Chiropractic Council (GCC), he was given a 12-month Conditions of Practice Order – which involves being regularly audited by a registered chiropractor – in a bid to bring his methods in line with standards.

The GCC report states: “The committee found that Mr Mathew had made wide-ranging and fundamental errors in his clinical practice in relation to three patients over a considerable period of time.

“The committee had considered that whilst Mr Mathew has demonstrated some insight into his failings, by way of his admissions and the steps he has taken to remedy failures identified in this case, that insight has yet to be fully developed.

“The committee was of the view that Mr Mathew’s conduct was not at the lower end of the spectrum.”

The committee also found that Mr Mathew had made “misleading” comments at a talk which could have deterred parents from having their children vaccinated against measles and stopped women going to breast cancer screenings.

“The talk touched on highly emotive subjects for potentially vulnerable groups of the general public,” the report added.

“The committee noted that Mr Mathew intends to stop the talks and replace them with a prerecorded introduction to the clinic and chiropractic in order to avoid the possibility of any impromptu inappropriate comments.”

When approached, Mr Mathew declined to comment on the GCC’s findings.