Milan Brych (11 December 1939 - ?) is a controversial Czech-born cancer therapist.
Born in 1939, Brych fled the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968, and arrived in New Zealand as a refugee. Claiming to have medical professional qualifications, Brych commenced work as a medical practitioner. After being removed from the register of NZ medical practitioners in 1977, he then relocated his controversial practice to the Cook Islands. One of his most high profile proponents in the 1970s was the then Premier of Queensland Joh Bjelke-Petersen, who invited him to set up practice in Australia. Brych relocated to the USA, and in 1980 was convicted of practicing medicine without a license. After serving part of his six-year sentence, he was deported. He seems to have lived in Switzerland, but has now apparently disappeared from popular and media attention.
Contents |
Milan Brych was born Vlastimil Brych on 11 December 1939 in the then Czechoslovakia.[1] (At least one references cites his first name as "Vlastimal",[1] but this appears to be an error.) After the 1968 Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia, he fled to Italy, then as a refugee arrived in New Zealand.[2] Brych claimed to have studied Medicine at the University of Brno. It was later revealed that at the time he claimed to have been studying, he was in fact in prison.[1]
After being accepted as a refugee, he obtained a position in radiotherapy at the Auckland General Hospital. In 1973 [1] faculty initiated questioning of his qualifications and his claimed "miraculous success" in cancer treatment. Brych was removed from New Zealand Medical Register in 1974.[1] and moved his practice to the Cook Islands.
Brych left New Zealand after his appeal against his disbarment failed and moved his controversial practice to Rarotonga, Cook Islands.[1][3] The Returned Soldiers Association Cemetery in Rarotonga is reported as being nicknamed "the Brych-yard", as it contains the graves of many of Brych's patients. The true name of the Brych Yard cemetery is Nikau Cemetery, alternate spelling Nikao Cemetery. You can take an aerial tour of the Brych Yard where you can click on the graves for a close-up view of the patients' graves. The Milan Brych Underground Website (www.mbuw.org) has this page with photos of the Brych Yard: http://membres.multimania.fr/MBUW/PAGES/BRYCH_YARD.HTM The main page of this site is: http://membres.multimania.fr/MBUW/ then you need to click the INDEX.HTM file [2][4]
| I was criticised in the same way for my support of cancer therapist Milan Brych... I was the only poilitcian in Australia who said he out to be given a chance to show his therapy worked. Like Stephen Horvarth's car, his methods may yet be vindicated. | ||
In 1978, then Premier of Queensland Joh Bjelke-Petersen asked Brych to set up practice in Queensland.[2][6][7][8] In the time of his premiership, Bjelke-Petersen's wishes were usually implemented.[9] Then Deputy Premier Dr Llew Edwards, a general practitioner, strenuously opposed and ultimately defeated in Cabinet Bjelke-Petersen's invitation.[2][10]
Brych relocated his practice to Los Angeles. In 1980 he was convicted of practicing medicine without a licence.[2][6][11] After serving three years of a six-year sentence he was deported, apparently to Switzerland, and then disappeared from popular and media attention.[2]