An earlier investigation into Schmidt revealed a pattern of incomplete or inadequately supervised colonoscopies from 2018 to 2022, triggering recalls for about 2,000 patients and prompting repeat procedures for 1,084.

A review by NSW’s Health Care Complaints Commission and the Medical Council led to a broader inquiry, with around 2,000 patients warned they might need repeat procedures and seven later diagnosed with cancer.

A coronial inquest linked a 79-year-old patient’s death to surgical error and delayed diagnosis of a mechanical obstruction, alongside other contributing factors.

The Health Care Complaints Commission sought a one-year suspension, but the tribunal imposed a six-month suspension, citing the doctor’s efforts to address concerns and support from colleagues.

Schmidt admitted to the complaint matters, including inadequate procedure times and poor imaging, acknowledging a pattern of insufficient care across multiple cases.

Tribunal records show several colonoscopies lasted five to ten minutes, with only one reaching 16 minutes, far shorter than the expected withdrawal-focused duration of about eight minutes.

Schmidt acknowledged the conduct was serious enough to risk suspension or cancellation and that post-suspension conditions would require supervision.

Tribunal and expert testimony highlighted rapid colonoscopy times and inadequate image capture as key issues, with concerns that such speed increases the risk of missing lesions.

Experts warned that rapid withdrawal and insufficient imaging could miss lesions or fail to reach the caecum, undermining colonoscopy completeness.

NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal suspended Schmidt’s medical registration for six months after finding professional misconduct affecting multiple patients at Albury Wodonga Health.

A NSW tribunal found professional misconduct by Dr Liu-Ming Schmidt and imposed a six-month practicing suspension.

Misconduct included operating on the wrong end of a patient’s bowel, causing a total bowel obstruction and contributing to death, along with poor postoperative care and inadequate follow-up.