Medicals reviewed in wake of Fahey

By JASON COLLIE

Ansett New Zealand has dropped breast examinations as part of its medicals since sacking disgraced doctor Morgan Fahey.

The airline's new doctor, who took over after Ansett sacked Fahey shortly before he was charged last year with sexually abusing patients, did not think breast exams should be part of medicals for applicants, spokesman John Cordery said.

Flight attendants had complained Fahey made them undress and groped their breasts during his 12 years as Ansett's medical examiner.

Fahey will be sentenced this week on 13 charges of sexual abuse and some of his victims were Ansett flight attendants.

Mr Cordery said the current company doctor had reviewed the test requirements.

"He had looked at the whole gamut of tests and came up with a re-designed format."

A former flight attendant, who would only be named as Lisa, told the Herald yesterday she felt Ansett had ignored complaints about Fahey's hands-on methods.

At the medical she had to undergo as part of her job application in 1989, Fahey ordered her to take all of her clothes off except her underpants, she said.

He examined her breasts and was going to start the eye test, but Lisa demanded to put her clothes back on first.

Many of the women Lisa worked with at Ansett told her they remained unclothed while Fahey carried out the eye and reflex tests, she said.

She had since gone to work for another airline and a breast exam was not part of its medical.

"My breast examination was like a grope. I had only had one examination before and I did not know [for sure] but I did not feel quite comfortable.

"I know there weren't any formal complaints, as in nobody went to the police, but the whole group were not happy that we were going to him as the company doctor."

Lisa said she complained to her supervisors four times and staff assumed their feelings would be passed on to management. "In hindsight" the attendants should have gone to their union, but thought Ansett would act on their claims.

"When you have a group saying it, they should have sat up and listened to us," she added.

The airline did tell flight attendants they could have a female chaperone with them when they saw Fahey after concerns were raised in 1991.

Mr Cordery said no further action was taken because no formal complaints were made.

"Unfortunately the company proceeded on the basis that he was a reputable and apparently trustworthy medical practitioner. The flight attendants' manager raised these concerns with Fahey. He completely denied them."

Ansett is offering counselling to up to 300 recruits examined by Fahey.