‘No specific consent sought’

Press, 26 January 1988, Page 4

‘No specific consent sought’

PA Auckland No specific consent was sought from patients to have cervixes photographed while under anaesthetic because photographs were “an essential part of the clinical record,” according to a cancer inquiry paper. This statement was contained in information Dr Herbert Green — at the centre of the cervical cancer inquiry into practices at National Women’s Hospital, Auckland — gave his counsel, David Collins. Mr Collins passed it to head of the inquiry, Judge

Silvia Cartwright. Judge Cartwright released a paper yesterday summarising the information and private interviews with nurses at National Women’s Hospital who took vaginal swabs from newborn babies on Dr Green’s instruction. Counsel for the various parties to the inquiry began presenting final submissions yesterday. This final stage is due to be completed within two or three days, ending an inquiry originally planned to last a few weeks but which stretched

to. 65 days of public hearings.

Judge Cartwright is due to give her report to the Minister of Health, Mr Caygill, by March 31. In the paper Judge Cartwright released yesterday, Dr Green said the photographs were taken for clinical purposes for teaching. “They were stored at the hospital and the photographs were, in his view, an essential part of patients’ clinical records, and for that reason no specific consent was sought from patients,” the paper said.

Statements from nurses disputed earlier reports that vaginal swabs from newborn babies were taken on racial or socioeconomic grounds. A special duties sister said the swabs were collected during the day when the babies were with their mothers. “Mothers were told of the tests and the special duties sister can remember no protests,” the paper said “She is adamant that there was no selective process and that no distinction was made between the babies of public

and private patients. “No racial or other bias applied. The babies were not harmed by the procedure,” the paper said. Michael Churchouse, the charge technologist (cytology) at National Women’s Hospital since 1962, was interviewed further in private. He said that to his recollection of swabs were taken from pakeha babies. “During the period 1963 to 1966 (when the 2200 swabs were taken) there were very few Pacific Island babies born at the hospital,” he said.

Mr Collins yesterday described his client as a victim of a “slanted media trial.” Mr Collins accused journalists covering the inquiry of publicising only selected evidence and omitting that which portrayed Dr Green as a “kind and generous” person.

“The consequence of their approach has been more than just a persecution of Dr Green,” Mr Collins said. “They have unjustifiably and unreasonably undermined public confidence in National Women’s Hospital.”