A coroner's enquiry has found that Dr Matt Wildbore's death in June last year was self-inflicted. Dr Matt Wildbore One of a small group of openly gay GPs, Rotorua-born Wildbore became a popular figure in Auckland's gay community. In the early days of the HIV epidemic he shouldered the heaviest load of HIV-infected patients in the country, at a time when medications were few and stigma against those with the then-fatal infection was rife, even in the gay community. After shutting down his inner-city general practise Wildbore, a self-confessed technology nut, worked on development of computer software for medical practises, then went on to become the medical director of a large North Shore Accident and medical centre. He had resigned from this position just two weeks before taking his own life. Wildbore was found dead in his Karangahape Road apartment, which overlooked picturesque inner-city Myers Park, on June 19th, 2008. The Coroner's Act 2006 prevents publication of the details of his death. At his funeral he was remembered as an empathetic man who gave much to his patients, family and friends and who "somehow couldn't love himself enough."
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Monday, 16th November 2009 - 3:12pm