Doctor may face action over fatal error

A former Rotorua Hospital general surgeon could face legal action over a "serious technical error" that cost a man's life.

In a report released today by the Health and Disability Commissioner the surgeon, referred to as Dr C, made a "severe departure from the normally accepted standard of intra-operative care for a patient having laparoscopic cholecystectomy" (gallstone procedure).

Commissioner Ron Paterson said disciplinary proceedings were necessary to maintain professional standards and referred the case to the director of proceedings.

Dr C trained as a general surgeon in England and performed more than 1400 of the procedures between 1990 and 2000.

In November 2007 he was appointed as a locum consultant general surgeon at Rotorua Hospital.

Mr Paterson said Dr C no longer worked in New Zealand but was still a registered medical practitioner in Britain.

A copy of the report would be sent to General Medical Council of the United Kingdom, he said.

- NZPA