Health board finds ‘no formal complaints’

Press, 18 April 1986, Page 3

Health board finds ‘no formal complaints’

Nelson reporter The Nelson Area Health Board took time in committee yesterday to investigate “complaints” about Murchison’s doctor only to find there were no formal complaints and "it didn’t know what it was investigating.” “It’s very Mickey Mouse,” said the chairman, Mr Rodney Haines, last evening. “Being very much in the dark as to what the complaints were, how many people were involved, and who the people were decided the board to convene its disciplinary committee to give the complainants an opportunity to be heard and for Murchison’s sole doctor. Dr Malcolm Peacey, to hear and

respond to them,” said Mr Haines. Mr Haines said he was unable to say if the complainants were women only and how many there were. “I know we have had no formal complaints tabled,” he said. Recently Dr Peacey, in Murchison’s newsletter, expressed concern and hurt about allegations of professional misconduct. These related to housecalls, waiting room and appointment times, allegations that his examinations of women had sexual overtones, and that he moralised on contraception and abortion. Mr Haines said yesterday that the board’s chief medical officer, Mr Peter

Low, heard of the complaints last year and recently visited Murchison to investigate. He talked with some women, Dr Peacey, and the public to find out what the problems were. One hundred letters supporting Dr Peacey had been received and the writers — many of them women — had taken a lot of trouble with what they had written, Mr Haines said. “The board does not know what it is investigating. We have heard these wild things that are being said but until these people come and talk with us we will not know what the problems are. That is why we are convening the disciplinary committee,” he said.