A woman in her mid-40s ("Mrs A") with a history of opiate dependence died following ibogaine treatment at a New Zealand clinic in 2013. The Health and Disability Commissioner's investigation (case 13HDC00966) found breaches of monitoring standards by the clinic, its medical director, and an assistant involved in her care.
Per the HDC report, the patient completed a pre-treatment questionnaire, blood tests and an ECG, and was advised to stop taking the antidepressant venlafaxine before travelling to the clinic. The HDC found specific breaches of care standards by the prescribing doctor and the clinic. Names of the patient and most parties were withheld in the published decision; the clinic operator was named "Iboga New Zealand Limited."
Investigation & Causality
Substance Reported
Ibogaine
Exposure Context
Medical clinic
Official Manner / Classification
Health and Disability Commissioner investigation found breaches of care standards
Ibogaine Causality
Alleged
Investigation Authority
New Zealand Health and Disability Commissioner (HDC)
Case Reference
13HDC00966
Investigation Outcome
The HDC investigation (report 13HDC00966, published 2015) found that the clinic ("Iboga New Zealand Limited"), its medical director ("Dr B"), and an "iboga assistant" ("Mrs C") breached patient care/monitoring standards. The report emphasized that ibogaine was an unapproved medicine listed as prescription-only by Medsafe since 2010, and that insufficient post-treatment monitoring contributed to the outcome.
Case Details
Location
New Zealand
Age
45 (at time of events)
Sex
Female
Cause of Death (as first reported)
Reported as linked to ibogaine administration; ibogaine has been linked to sudden cardiac death following ingestion, per HDC report
Sources
Government statementJan 1, 2015
Monitoring of patient following administration of an unapproved, prescription-only medicationHealth and Disability Commissioner (New Zealand)
“Ibogaine is an unapproved medicine under the Medicines Act, and has been listed as a prescription-only medicine by Medsafe since 2010. There is a paucity of data supporting the use of ibogaine in scientific literature. However, it has been linked to sudden cardiac death following ingestion.”