Professional misconduct: IV clinic pharmacist found guilty

Susan T. GonzalezMedical

The IV.me Hydration Clinic was based at a medical clinic in South Yarra, Victoria, with the support of Dr. O’Gorman, director and general practitioner. It subsequently expanded to Holdsworth House Medical Practice in Sydney in a clinic run by Dr. Quan and their partners. Shadi Kazeme was the pharmacist and clinic director.

The clinics promoted a range of IV infusions with claims which we alleged breached Section 133 of the National Law and the Code of Conduct Pharmacy Board of Australia. Treatments (and shares) included:

  • Rejuvenate.ME ($249) “contains a high dose of Glutathione as well as several other vitamins,” a “trendy anti-aging remedy that produces fast results.” “The detoxifying properties in this infusion help to cleanse the body’s vital organs.”
  • Energise.ME ($289), “based on the famous Myer’s Cocktail,” “contains a carefully balanced blend of vitamins, detox agents, and energy supplements with a hit of the anti‐aging Glutathione that floods the body, putting your electrolytes back into equilibrium.”

Some publicity ensured:

  • Pharmacist Shadi Kazeme is under fire over intravenous vitamin drips.
  • Top doctors make official complaints about IV ‘hydration’ clinics offering vitamin drips
  • Suspended ‘hydration clinic’ pharmacist Sara Shadi Kazeme is still operating in Victoria

Judgment:

Over four years later, on March 19, 2020, the Civil and Administrative Tribunal New South Wales found Shadi Kazeme guilty of unsatisfactory professional conduct and professional misconduct.

The Tribunal found that the practitioner posed a substantial risk to the health of members of the public and accordingly ordered that the practitioner is prohibited from providing health services offering intravenous infusions, intramuscular injections, and other forms of injectables of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other similar products, for the period until she obtains a reinstatement order under Division 8 of Part of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (NSW) or its equivalent, or is re-registered as a health practitioner.

The practitioner was ordered to pay the Health Care Complaints Commission’s costs of these proceedings under clause 13(1) of Schedule 5D of the Health Practitioner Registration National Law (NSW) as agreed or as assessed under the Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Act 2014 (NSW).