Disastrous night costs x-ray man job

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An Auckland x-ray technologist who broke his leg when he crashed his motorcycle and drank beer by the roadside to dull the pain has been struck off after he abused and assaulted ambulance and police officers.

In a finding released yesterday, the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal's professional conduct committee cancelled the registration of Michael John Sellwood, who in 2009 was convicted of drink driving, driving while suspended, resisting arrest, common assault and assaulting a police officer.

The committee said the convictions reflected adversely on his fitness to practise as a medical radiation technologist - the people who take x-rays and use other imaging equipment.

Court notes made available to the committee revealed that Sellwood had broken up with his partner and started drinking whenever he was not at work or on call.

In 2008, after a night drinking whisky, he crashed a borrowed motorcycle. His licence was suspended from an earlier drink-driving offence.

His right leg broke at a right angle and he panicked and set the limb right himself. In significant pain, he said he reached for "the only type of pain relief" he had, which was beer he had bought.

He told the driver of one of the cars he hit to "f**k off" because he did not want to talk about the damage to her vehicle while he was in pain.

When ambulance officers arrived, Sellwood objected to the way he was put on the stretcher and kicked one of them. When police arrested him for assault, he called one officer a "f**king pig" and punched him.

At Auckland City Hospital, Sellwood was unhappy with his treatment and objected to a student being involved in his case.

He spent three weeks in hospital and when he was released unsuccessfully defended the charges against him in court. He was sentenced to community work, supervision and told to take an anger management course. Health authorities imposed supervision conditions on his practice but Sellwood said the conditions made it difficult for him to keep working.

The conduct committee said the physical and verbal assaults raised significant questions about his respect for others as a medical professional, and his drink-driving was disturbing.

Sellwood was ordered to pay $16,650 towards the costs of the tribunal and committee.

- NZPA