FOOTY DOC COPS BAN
A WELL-KNOWN Geelong doctor has been stripped of his medical licence for reasons not yet explained.
The registration of Chris Bradshaw, a former Geelong Football Club medical officer, who was practising at the Geelong branch of Olympic Park Sports Medicine Centre, has been suspended by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.
“The Medical Board of Australia suspended Dr Bradshaw’s registration on Monday, 30 October 2017. We cannot comment further at this time,” an AHPRA spokeswoman said in a statement to the Geelong Advertiser.
The ruling means Dr Bradshaw, who had been the physician in charge at Collingwood Football Club, is banned from practising medicine in Australia.
Yesterday, Olympic Park Sports Medicine on Bellarine St was advising patients that Dr Bradshaw was not consulting at the clinic and was unlikely to return anytime soon.
Patients were encouraged to find a new doctor.
A spokesman for the centre referred inquiries to the Medical Board of Australia.
“Olympic Park Sports Medicine Centre understands that the Medical Board of Aus- tralia has suspended the licence of Dr Christopher Bradshaw to practise, with effect from 30 October 2017, whilst it undertakes an investigation into his conduct,” he said. “As the matter remains under investigation, it would not be appropriate for Olympic Park Sports Medicine Centre to comment at this time.”
Dr Bradshaw’s registration details in the AHPRA database state, “Pursuant to section 191(3)(c) of the Act Dr Bradshaw is reprimanded.”
That section states, “If a panel decides a registered health practitioner or student has an impairment, or that a practitioner has behaved in a way that constitutes unsatisfactory professional performance or unprofessional conduct, the panel may decide to ... for a performance and professional standards panel, caution or reprimand the practitioner”.
AHPRA defines a reprimand as, “A chastisement for conduct; a formal rebuke”.
The long-time AFL medico joined Collingwood from Geelong three seasons ago.
He headed up the Cats’ medical department for eight years, including during their three premiership seasons.
It is understood his Magpie bosses were aware of the situation on Thursday night.
His deputy Greg Shuttleworth is expected to step up in the interim.
“Collingwood is aware of, but not involved in, a matter pertaining to Dr Chris Bradshaw and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency,” a club statement said.
“Chris will not be fulfilling his role as Collingwood physician in charge while this matter proceeds.
“Collingwood is not in a position to make any further comment.”
Dr Bradshaw was thrust into the spotlight in 2010, when he saved the life of fellow Cats doctor Geoff Allen by reviving him in the middle of Adelaide’s AAMI Stadium following his cardiac arrest during the team’s warm up.
Dr Bradshaw also previously practised at the Corio Bay Sports Medicine Centre on La Trobe Tce.