Latest from Health and Disability Commissioner

Woman dies after X-ray red flag ignored

A woman who sought hospital help for a cough and had an X-ray whose suspicious findings were overlooked, died from cancer nearly two years later.

For 4 years she wasn't told she had cancer

A 46-year-old was not told of results which found she had a tumour that eventually killed her.

IUD implanted without woman's consent

A patient is upset a doctor inserted an IUD without her consent during surgery.

Doctor's care left woman with arthritis

A New Zealand doctor's improper care left a patient with arthritis and limited function in one of her fingers.

Optometrist did not show 'reasonable care'

An optometrist who failed to diagnose a retinal detachment in a patient which can lead to blindness did not show "reasonable care and skill", the Health and Disability Commission has ruled.

Contamination cause focus after prosecution dropped

Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule says without a prosecution, councils can focus on finding the cause of the Havelock North water contamination

Doctor criticised over depressed patient

Doctor's failings included not putting the man in a mental health unit, an investigation found.

Why hundreds fewer are dying in the ER

Some 700 lives a year are being saved in hospital emergency departments by the controversial six-hour target, new research indicates.

Patient who had sex with nurse 'felt yuck'

Vulnerable woman tells of feeling 'yuck' after motel encounters with mental health nurse who exploited her problem with alcohol, prosecutors say.

Disabled man dies after care plan ignored

A young disabled man died in a residential care home after instructions for his care were ignored and he was left alone in bed.

Midwife's competence questioned

A midwife's competence has been questioned after she failed to arrange urine testing for a woman who was later diagnosed with a life-threatening condition that necessitated an emergency caesarean birth.

Elderly woman given incorrect dose

An elderly woman with dementia was given four times her proper dose of antipsychotic medication for nine days before anyone noticed the error.

Legal battle could take its toll on family of disabled boy

A lengthy legal battle could take an emotional and financial toll on the family of a brain damaged Wellington boy: Legal expert.

Health board apologises to family

The capital's health board has been blamed for a young boy's brain damage and quadriplegia because of meningitis that was missed by two doctors.

Meningitis miss: Boy in hospital

A two-year-old Wellington boy severely brain damaged after a hospital twice failed to diagnose him, remains in hospital suffering from a chest infection.

Special needs boy allowed in class

An Auckland high school has lost a court battle to keep a child with Asperger’s out of the classroom.

School fights to keep teen out

Green Bay High School is going to one of the country's highest courts to fight to keep a teenager with Asperger's out of the classroom.

Physio who had sex with patient breached standards