Medical mistakes probe goes private

By FRANCESCA MOLD

A ministerial review into how medical errors are identified and reported to health authorities will be held behind closed doors.

Health Minister Annette King said yesterday that she had appointed Wellington QC Helen Cull to head the review, sparked by the Gisborne cervical cancer scare and widespread concerns about the competency of Northland gynaecologist Graham Parry.

Ms Cull last year headed an inquiry into baby tapping at National Women's Hospital.

Mrs King's office yesterday confirmed that in the review, Ms Cull would interview patients who have complained about treatment and analyse legislation and regulations related to the disciplinary process.

Interviews with women and the heads of various disciplinary and complaints bodies would be held in private.

Northland woman Gael Nisbet, who has complained to the Medical Council about treatment she received from Dr Parry, said women wanted their concerns to be heard in an environment where they could support each other publicly.

She said that the reason many women had gone public with their stories was so that people understood Northland cervical cancer sufferer Colleen Poutsma was not the only one with concerns about Dr Parry.

Green MP Sue Bradford said a full, independent inquiry was needed to uncover exactly how many women had been affected and to what extent.

But Mrs King said Dr Parry was already the subject of two independent inquiries, by the Medical Council and by the Health and Disability Commissioner.

The Cull review would focus on identifying how complaints processes worked and the relationships between agencies such as the Health and Disability Commissioner, the Medical Council, disciplinary tribunal and ACC's medical misadventure unit.

Under the terms of reference, Ms Cull must identify any barriers which impede the timely identification and investigation of "adverse medical outcomes" and recommend any legislative changes needed to improve the complaints process.

Ms Cull will report her findings to Mrs King on December 18, after which they will be made public.

Meanwhile, the Health Funding Authority yesterday revealed that an Australian review of Colleen Poutsma's cervical smears which had earlier been thought to have been misread had agreed with the original results.

The HFA was investigating the reporting of a number of Mrs Poutsma's smears after a difference of opinion between the original readings by Northland Pathology Laboratory and a pathologist hired by the Paihia woman's lawyer.

The HFA said the review demonstrated that cervical cytology was not an exact science.

And it reminded people that doctors should not rely solely on smear results when patients had other clinical symptoms.