Dead man victim of 'bureaucratic malpractice' - family

Nicholas Stevens. Photo / supplied

The family of a man whose body was found in the Waikato River last week are calling for an independent probe into his death amidst claims he is the victim of "medical and bureaucratic malpractice".

Nicholas Taiaroa Stevens, 21, the son of Hamilton City councillor Dave Macpherson, was found dead on Thursday - three days after he was reported missing from a Waikato Hospital mental health care facility.

His distraught family said they were contacted by Waikato Hospital the day after his body was found to say it was conducting an internal investigation into "service and care delivery issues" that the family had raised before his death was confirmed.

But parents Jane and Dave Stevens, and brother Tony, said they would not take part in "a sham investigation". "We demand a complete, independent investigation run totally outside Waikato Hospital, where the family has opportunity for input at all stages," the family said in a statement today.

Mr Stevens was being cared for at the hospital under a compulsory care order under the Mental Health Act.

The family claimed Mr Stevens had been granted a 15-minute "unescorted leave" period from the hospital. But they claimed that it was "at least 90 minutes" before it was discovered he was missing.

"Had Nicholas been on escorted leave, as his family stated was the only safe option at that time, he would almost certainly have been alive today," the family said.

"Our son's death was preventable, had proper and common sense procedures been followed."

Police have referred the death to the coroner.

Waikato DHB communications director Mary Anne Gill said the internal inquiry is part of a serious adverse event review carried out by all DHBs in such instances, as laid out by the Health and Quality and Safety Commission.

The hospital's most senior staff member is working on the case, she said.

"We are profoundly sorry for the family's loss and are available to meet with them at any time to talk about the treatment we provided leading up to his disappearance. We will do all we can to ensure we involve them in an appropriate way," said Ms Gill.

Ms Gill also stressed that as well as their own internal inquiry, the DHB will cooperate with the coroner's independent inquiry.

A farewell service for Mr Stevens will be held at Hamilton Gardens Pavilion on Wednesday at 11am.