Health and Disability Commissioner Ron Paterson has apologised to Colleen Poutsma for the delay in investigating her complaint over inadequate treatment for cervical cancer.
The Medical Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal has suspended Northland gynaecologist Dr Graham Parry ahead of a hearing next month on a charge of disgraceful conduct over his management of Mrs Poutsma's case in 1997-98.
Dr Parry admits inadequately assessing and treating the 47-year-old Bay of Islands woman, who has terminal cancer, but denies that his failures amount to disgraceful conduct.
After receiving her complaint in March 1998, the commissioner's office, then under commissioner Robyn Stent, took 18 months to complete its investigation, which led to the tribunal charge.
Mr Paterson publicly apologised to Mrs Poutsma yesterday. He said he had also apologised by telephone to her husband, Jack, and had arranged to meet Mrs Poutsma this week to apologise in person.
The delay was inexcusable, said Mr Paterson, who was appointed in February."I am putting in place a system to ensure that in future a person in a similar situation has their case dealt with as a matter of urgency."
He was still investigating another complaint about Dr Parry, but had been unable to look into others as they involved treatment before the commission was formed in 1996.
ACC has made eight findings of medical error or mishap involving Dr Parry.
Vicky Hammond, a lawyer acting for the Whangarei surgeon, said Dr Parry was considering challenging his suspension.
She said there was a chance he would challenge it and had three options in doing so.
A decision would be made by the end of the week on whether to go back to the tribunal, or take the matter up in the district or high court.
The disciplinary tribunal said the suspension was for the health and safety of the women who were still Dr Parry's patients.
Until the suspension of his practising licence he had been performing ultrasound examinations and surgery at Whangarei under supervision ordered by the Medical Council.
It has also ordered a review of all case notes involving Dr Parry's patients from the past two years.
- NZPA
Commissioner apologises to woman dying of cancer
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