The Chinese herbalist who rose to prominence after helping Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull shed 14 kilograms has been found guilty of unsatisfactory professional conduct.
In the first case of its kind, Dr Shuquan Liu was prosecuted by the Health Care Complaints Commission after prescribing a program of fasting, remedial massage and acupuncture for a patient with chronic ulcerative colitis.
Dr Liu's signature Wellness 101 program combines fasting, acupuncture, cupping, herbal potions and Moxibustion, a traditional Chinese medicine therapy which consists of burning dried mugwort on particular points on the body.
The case is the first in which a Chinese medicine practitioner has been brought before the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
Dr Liu, who has five Traditional Chinese Medicine Centres across Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, was accused of using staff who were not registered Chinese medical practitioners and not adequately skilled.
The HCCC also claimed he failed to maintain proper clinical records including the patient's case history, an adequate diagnosis, a treatment plan, and notes relating to the patient's progress, symptoms and diet, in accordance with the Chinese Medicine Board of Australia's guidelines.
Dr Liu's website describes him as "Australia's leading Chinese herbal practitioner".
He says his treatments help patients "feel healthier, lose weight, sleep better, get relief from chronic pain" and "have a stronger, healthier body for the rest of your life".
The website contains many testimonials, including one from Greg Medcraft, chair of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, who said: "I lost 18 kilos in three months! For the first month, I only took herbs which reset my appetite. In total, I dropped to 64 kilos, stabilising at 69."
In 2012, Mr Turnbull said of his weight loss: "I must say that I found the fast extremely Âinformative because it made me realise I am in control of my own body and can control my appetite. It is a very good insight."
Other devotees reportedly include Channel Seven's The Morning Show host Larry Emdur and Aussie Home Loans boss John Symond.
The tribunal heard that Dr Liu saw the patient four times in 11 days at his Norwest Clinic at Bella Vista, in Sydney's north-west, in October 2014.
Following the treatment, the patient experienced rapid weight loss amounting to nine kilograms in 11 days, from a starting weight of 68 kilograms.
Giving evidence Dr Liu said he does not accept the treatment includes "fasting" because although no solid food is given, the herbs he prescribe contain at least 250 calories.
He later admitted that "some people may regard it as fasting, but he does not regard it as fasting".
He admitted he did not ask the patient, who cannot be named for legal reasons, if he or she had diabetes or high blood pressure.
The Civil and Administrative Tribunal last week found the HCCC had not proven Dr Liu failed to appropriately consider the patient's co-existing medical conditions.
But it found he failed to record a complete case history, and failed to record the decoction of 16 herbs prescribed.
He also failed to record the acupuncture points he instructed a staff member to use on the patient.
As a result, no other health professional would have been able to ascertain how and when the patient had been treated, and in the case of emergency, would not be able to take over, the tribunal said.
The tribunal said the proven complaints "are so serious as to warrant a finding of professional misconduct".
Dr Liu was found guilty of unsatisfactory professional conduct. A further hearing will be held to determine the sanctions or restrictions that will be imposed on his registration as a Chinese medicine practitioner.
Dr Liu declined to comment on the tribunal's decision.