A tribunal has revoked the medical registration of Dr. Mark Rogers, an Adelaide physician, following multiple allegations of professional misconduct.
Dr. Rogers, who advocated for low-level laser therapy (LLLT), previously faced a two-month suspension and was prohibited from using this treatment in his medical practice.
The tribunal has issued a reprimand and barred Dr. Rogers from seeking re-registration as a healthcare professional for 18 months, along with a ban on providing any health services during that period.
Characterized by the tribunal as having an “unhealthy obsession” with low-level laser therapy, Dr. Rogers was found to have shown a “blatant disregard” for prior directives associated with his registration.
The Medical Board of Australia submitted a complaint to the South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, outlining six specific allegations against the general practitioner.
These allegations include deficiencies in patient care, failure to disclose potential conflicts of interest, making false statements to authorities, and engaging in questionable financial dealings with a patient.
Additionally, the complaint asserted that Dr. Rogers violated his commitments to the board and did not adhere to the stipulated conditions of his registration.
Having practiced for over three decades, Dr. Rogers promoted LLLT, claiming it could treat conditions such as Alzheimer’s, assertions he later acknowledged were untrue.
In 2019, he faced disciplinary actions that included a reprimand and a two-month suspension, alongside a prohibition on offering LLLT during his medical practice.
The tribunal’s recent ruling highlighted that Dr. Rogers had previously made written commitments to the board, agreeing to limit his discussions about LLLT to “general terms” and to focus his interest in the therapy solely on “academic literature, debate, and reported research.”
The tribunal noted that the misconduct occurred between 2017 and 2020, with Dr. Rogers admitting to an “unhealthy obsession” with LLLT that he ultimately recognized had jeopardized his medical career and led to significant personal and financial turmoil.
Dr. Rogers indicated that his fixation with LLLT, described as “almost delusional,” made it difficult for him to refrain from discussing the treatment with patients. Consequently, he failed to document these conversations in patient records, aware that such discussions contravened his assurances to the board in 2017.
The ruling stated that Dr. Rogers has since come to understand the necessity of avoiding discussions regarding LLLT with patients.
In his affidavit, he expressed disdain for LLLT and regret for ever having engaged with it. The tribunal noted his desire to continue practicing as a general practitioner until the age of 70.
Expert medical testimony presented to the tribunal indicated that Dr. Rogers, who has a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, is currently undergoing successful treatment and poses no risk to the public, with a low likelihood of repeating similar misconduct in the future.
Since 2020, Dr. Rogers reported significant improvements in his mental health and has practiced as a GP without any reported incidents or further misconduct.
However, the tribunal stated it did not find Dr. Rogers to be a convincing witness, asserting that he was not experiencing psychosis during the period in question and was fully aware of his actions despite previous sanctions.
The tribunal found that Dr. Rogers exhibited willful disregard for prior orders and engaged in dishonest conduct by breaching his agreement with the board regarding LLLT and failing to maintain adequate clinical records for patients referred for inappropriate treatment.
As a result, the tribunal has reprimanded Dr. Rogers, revoked his registration, and prohibited him from applying for re-registration or providing any health services, including volunteer work, for 18 months.
