Doctors’ group lays complaint on sterilisation

Press, 14 July 1982, Page 2

Doctors’ group lays complaint on sterilisation

PA Wellington The chairman of the Medical Association. Dr Jeremy Hopkins, has joined the Accident Compensation Corporation in laying a complaint with the Medical Practitioners Disciplinary Committee against the doctor involved in the accidental sterilisation of a woman at Waikato Hospital. Dr Hopkins said yesterday that he had laid the complaint because serious questions had to be asked about the mistake. He said that he had laid the complaint after making inquiries and reading the full report of the Accident Compensation . Appeal Authority, which recently awarded the woman concerned $15,000 compensation.

The authority said that the woman had been admitted to the hospital to undergo routine gynaecological surgery in 1977. but had been accidentally sterilised because of the doctor's gross negligence. An Accident Compensation Corporation spokesman said after the authority hearing that the corporation intended to place a complaint with the committee, a statutory body responsible for maintaining doctors’ standards and behaviour.

Dr Hopkins said that the doctor had not had a chance to put his side of the story and would get that chance at the committee hearing.

It was not known when the hearing would be held.. he said. The committee did not comment on any aspect of complaints before it.