A Masterton Hospital obstetrician and gynaecologist has been censured and fined $3000 after being found guilty of professional misconduct and conduct unbecoming a medical practitioner.
The Medical Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal issued its penalty decision on Jeffrey Harrild yesterday after hearing a complaint in June, lodged by Craig and Amanda MacLeod, of
Tinui, Wairarapa.
Tribunal secretary Gay Fraser said censure was "a black mark against the doctor's name noted by the Medical Council that would remain on the doctor's file held by the Medical Council".
The penalty decision would be forwarded to the Medical Council, together with a request that the council consider whether a review of Mr Harrild's competence was required, and a competency programme put in place.
The MacLeods' complaint was made after the death of their unborn baby, Georgia, at Masterton Hospital in October 1997 during Mrs MacLeod's pregnancy while she was under Mr Harrild's specialist care.
The MacLeods said they were disappointed with the penalties, which they described as a "token fine and a slap on the wrist".
"We are very disappointed with the penalties but certainly not surprised given the tribunal's view of Mr Harrild as a caring and diligent practitioner - seemingly based on an afternoon's questioning - and the apparent need to find mitigation for his actions.
"We felt this was demonstrated by the tribunal's consideration of irrelevant facts in determining culpability of Georgia's death. It follows that in looking for an appropriate penalty they have taken into account a patient satisfaction survey but decided that recent complaints concerning Mr Harrild's practice were non-submissable."
The MacLeods felt their case should have been seen in the context of other complaints surrounding Mr Harrild's overall performance during his time at Masterton Hospital.
"That may give a more complete picture of the reasons for our tragedy and perhaps resulted in penalties imposed with an aim towards ensuring a safer maternity unit rather than a token fine and slap on the wrist," they said.
As well as being censured and fined, Mr Harrild was ordered to pay 15 per cent of the costs of the investigation, a total of $6530.
A notice will also be published in the New Zealand Medical Journal.
Mr Harrild was unavailable for comment.
A Wairarapa District Health Board spokeswoman, Belinda Howard, said the board had not had sufficient time to study the findings and declined to comment at this stage.
- NZPA
