Latest fromHealth and Disability Commissioner
![Woman suffers stillbirth after specialist misses 'red flag symptoms' of infection](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Woman suffers stillbirth after specialist misses 'red flag symptoms' of infection
A woman was discharged from hospital despite showing symptoms of infection.
![Pregnant woman died after delayed ICU admission](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Pregnant woman died after delayed ICU admission
A heavily pregnant woman and her stillborn child died in February 2022.
![Health watchdog taking years to investigate complaints - amid ‘significant pressure’](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Health watchdog taking years to investigate complaints - amid ‘significant pressure’
Covid backlog, ancient IT system part of problem, but upgrade request for latter rejected.
![Woman dies from stage four cancer after DHB's systemic failures](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Woman dies from stage four cancer after DHB's systemic failures
The post-menopausal woman had been bleeding on and off for five years.
!['Shocking': Intellectually disabled woman left unchecked for two days, found dead in bed](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
'Shocking': Intellectually disabled woman left unchecked for two days, found dead in bed
Care staff feared the 30-year-old might act aggressively so they left her alone.
![Asthmatic teen died after ambulance sent on a break](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Asthmatic teen died after ambulance sent on a break
'We were waiting and no one came' - family's distress after failed 111 call.
![Trainee doctor started medical procedure without anaesthetic: 'Most horrific pain'](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Trainee doctor started medical procedure without anaesthetic: 'Most horrific pain'
The woman screamed as she felt the electrically surging wire “cut through her cervix”.
![Te Whatu Ora Waikato breached patient's rights, led to late cancer diagnoses - report](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Te Whatu Ora Waikato breached patient's rights, led to late cancer diagnoses - report
An X-ray found nodules in lungs, but the woman, GP were not told. She died months later.
![Coroner rules Dunedin man’s death from Covid vax may have been prevented](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Coroner rules Dunedin man’s death from Covid vax may have been prevented
HDC finds failing to provide information was a prima facie breach of the health code.
![Teen dies of asthma after 111 call-taker botches questions, causing 28-min wait](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Teen dies of asthma after 111 call-taker botches questions, causing 28-min wait
Her family say the emergency services failure has created a wound that will never heal.
![Family lays complaint after 22-year-old dies suddenly in Middlemore Hospital](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Family lays complaint after 22-year-old dies suddenly in Middlemore Hospital
The family claimed Jaydyn Barnett was ready to go home but died suddenly after a fall.
![‘My life denied’: The cost of cancer treatment delays - a special investigation](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
‘My life denied’: The cost of cancer treatment delays - a special investigation
Big read: How one woman was caught in a scandal of overwhelmed cancer services.
![Sweeping change considered by health watchdog](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Sweeping change considered by health watchdog
Decisions by the Health and Disability Commissioner cannot currently be appealed.
![Much-loved pāpā and koro died after botched ED intubation procedure](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Much-loved pāpā and koro died after botched ED intubation procedure
The man was starved of oxygen, causing a fatal brain injury.
![‘It makes me sick:’ Massage therapist filmed clients, touched them inappropriately](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
‘It makes me sick:’ Massage therapist filmed clients, touched them inappropriately
The masseur faced criminal charges after being caught making videos of his patients.
!['Safer at home'? Dad who went to rest home for respite care died after a fall](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
'Safer at home'? Dad who went to rest home for respite care died after a fall
Family: 'We have suffered a lot over the past four and a half years, blaming ourselves'.
![Parents outraged after nurse accuses suicidal teen of ‘game-playing’](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Parents outraged after nurse accuses suicidal teen of ‘game-playing’
Health NZ then sent legal letter accusing distressed teen of 'uncalled for aggression'.
!['Insensitive': Doctor apologises for using humour during teen's circumcision](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
'Insensitive': Doctor apologises for using humour during teen's circumcision
He also commented on the teen's weight and exposed him when his whānau were in the room.
![St John failed in care of heart attack patient after 111 call](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
St John failed in care of heart attack patient after 111 call
His GP told him to call an ambulance urgently and not drive himself to hospital.
!['No way did I consent': Woman given mesh treatment instead of hysterectomy](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
'No way did I consent': Woman given mesh treatment instead of hysterectomy
It was four months before she found out what type of surgery she'd had.
![The big risk factor for dementia - and what the Government is being urged to do about it](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
The big risk factor for dementia - and what the Government is being urged to do about it
The Government subsidy for hearing aids of $1022 hasn't increased for years.