Doctor who encouraged ‘Omicron parties’ instead of vaccination during Covid loses registration

Tuesday, 31 March 2026

A Golden Bay doctor has had his medical registration cancelled after he encouraged people to hold “Omicron parties” to catch Covid-19 instead of getting vaccinated.

The Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal found Dr Bruce Ross Dooley guilty of professional misconduct after he promoted and sold ivermectin as a superior alternative to the Pfizer vaccine during the height of the pandemic.

The tribunal found his actions unethically risked the health of his patients and undermined New Zealand’s public health response.

The professional conduct committee brought the charges following an email Dooley sent to patients in November 2021 and comments he made to a local newspaper in January 2022. In those communications, Dooley described catching the virus as a “perfect situation” that could work as a “natural vaccine”.

During a ninth Covid-19 wave, NZ First is pushing for a fresh inquiry into vaccine safety. Michael Baker warns that waning immunity is driving 50 hospitalisations a week, while a new Royal Commission report highlights lessons for future pandemics.

“Why aren’t we having Omicron parties for the low-risk population?!” Dooley asked in the GB Thinker, a local newspaper, referring to a variant of the virus. He also claimed ivermectin was “very effective against Covid” and reduced hospitalisations by up to 80%.

The tribunal found these statements were inaccurate, misleading, and contrary to accepted medical practice. Expert evidence presented to the tribunal stated ivermectin was not an appropriate substitute for vaccination and that individuals substantially increased their risk of severe illness if they remained unvaccinated.

Dooley also bulk ordered ivermectin and sold it to between 62 and 250 patients through “ivermectin kits”. The kits included other supplements like Vitamin D and instructions on how to prepare for an infection.

The tribunal heard Dooley breached the Medicines Act by ordering the drug for general office use rather than for specific, identifiable patients. He failed to properly consult with patients, did not discuss drug interactions or potential side effects, and failed to keep adequate records of who received the kits.

Sir Ashley Bloomfield discusses the importance of a long-term, bipartisan health plan. With a focus on optimism and clear goals, he calls for sustained action to improve New Zealand's healthcare over the next decade.

The tribunal ordered the cancellation of Dooley’s registration and ruled he could not apply for re-registration for at least two years.

While the tribunal noted the conduct was less serious than some other pandemic-related cases because Dooley’s audience was locally focused, his continued lack of insight made cancellation necessary.

Evidence was presented that as recently as February 2025, Dooley appeared on podcasts making disparaging comments about his regulator.

The tribunal found his possibility of rehabilitation was “remote at best”.

“Ensuring the patient is able to give informed consent is a fundamental tenet of good medical practice,” the ruling stated. It found Dooley had a “clear disregard” for prescribing standards.

Dooley did not attend the hearing in Nelson and was not represented by counsel.

In addition to the cancellation of his registration, Dooley was censured and ordered to pay $73,639 in costs. If he chooses to return to the profession in the future, he must complete educational courses on informed consent, prescribing practice, and research analysis.

Non-publication orders were made to protect the names and identifying details of the patients involved in the evidence.

An earlier version of this story said Dooley’s registration was suspended. It was cancelled. (Amended at 11.20am on March 31, 2026)