Complaints about medical practitioners reached record levels in the last year as confidence in the profession plummeted, Health and Disability Commissioner Ron Paterson said.
In his annual report to Parliament, Mr Paterson said 1397 complaints were laid in the year to June 30 - up 28 per cent on the previousyear.
The complaints system was perceived to be failing patients and doctors.
"On the one hand, local doctors believe they are practising in the most hostile environment in the western world, in a country obsessed with safety," he said.
"On the other hand, complaints about medical practitioners are at a record high.
"There is a disturbing lack of confidence in the ability of the health and legal systems to respond to concerns about health care and disability services.
"The public sees that the medical profession is shielded from damages claims for negligence, reluctant to blow the whistle on errant colleagues and slow to discipline substandard doctors; and a publicly funded health system that underfunds public hospitals and screening programmes."
He said public concerns had come to a head with the case of Whangarei gynaecologist Graham Parry, who last year was found guilty of disgraceful conduct over his treatment of cancer patient Colleen Poutsma, who has since died.
The Medical Council reported last month that 382 complaints were laid in the year to March 31, compared with 199 the previous year.
