NATHAN CROAWELL AGAINST STUFF

Case Number: 3189

Council Meeting: JANUARY 2022

Decision: No Grounds to Proceed

Publication: Stuff

Principle: Accuracy, Fairness and Balance
Headlines and Captions
Discrimination and Diversity
Subterfuge

Ruling Categories: Defamation/Damaging To Reputation
Headlines and Captions
Covid

Stuff published an article on January 11, 2022, headlined Anti-vax ex-doctor in Canterbury looks set to continue new career as chocolatier. The story reported that an anti-vaccine doctor was no longer able to practise medicine in her clinic, but her “Guilt free” chocolate business still seemed to be going strong.

Nathan Croawell complained the doctor had already lost her licence to practise medicine and the article and headline felt like “a witch hunt to take away her other means of earning a living.

“Just because this publication is very biased in its view on covid and how people should act it doesn’t mean they have the right to sway their readers to boycott her other business,” said Mr Croawell

“I think it is a disgrace to defame and highlight Jonie Girouard’s other business because of a separate case that has already stripped her of being a doctor.”

The Media Council considers this to be a straightforward piece of reporting which does not breach any of its principles. The doctor’s affairs had become a matter of public interest, and the facts of her chocolate enterprise were accurate.  There is no suggestion of inaccuracy or imbalance, and it is not unfair or defamatory to say that although she is no longer registered as a doctor, she is continuing her chocolate business.

There were insufficient grounds to proceed.

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