Witness tells of learning about hospital problems

Press, 22 September 1987, Page 6

Witness tells of learning about hospital problems

PA Auckland Professor Denis Bonham told the cancer inquiry in Auckland yesterday that he learnt of problems facing the hospital at the time Phillida Bunkie wrote to the ethics committee. Ms Bunkie and Sandra Coney wrote an article in “Metro” magazine which led to the present inquiry. The article alleged that Dr Herbert Green did not treat women for cervical cancer because he believed intervention was not necessary. Professor Bonham was chairman of National Women’s Hospital’s medical committee which in 1966 passed Dr Green’s proposal for a conservative Management pro-

gramme for treatment of patients with carcinoma in situ, a cervical abnormality. Under cross-examina-tion by Mr Hugh Rennie, counsel for Dr Ronald Jones, Dr Jock McLean and the estate of the late Dr William Mclndoe, Professor Bonham said yesterday he became conscious of the problems facing the hospital at the time Ms Bunkie wrote to the ethics committee. Professor Bonham said the hospital was well established in women’s health in 1963. “We battled to introduce husbands to birth ... the freeing up of the human relations side,” he said.

Mr Rennie Pro-

lessor Bonham if carcinoma in situ was one of three or four lines of inquiry internationally recognised at the hospital. Professor Bonham agreed, adding that it would be fair to say it was a line of inquiry recognising involvement with Dr Green. “Many women expect to be seen within hours of abnormal smear tests. We have to do a lot of reassuring, because the service becomes heavily loaded,” he said. The hospital saw about 60 of every 200 referral patients, or a little over one-quarter of ail cases.

“All the cervix invasives come to National Women’s Hospital, from North Cape to Mercer.”