Dr Green ‘believed in his theories’

Press, 28 January 1988, Page 4

Dr Green ‘believed in his theories’

PA Auckland Dr Herbert Green passionately believed in his theories and work with carcinoma in situ of the cervix, the Auckland cancer inquiry heard yesterday.

He felt that C.I.S. did not always progress to invasive cancer and argued that a conservative treatment of cervical abnormalities could be sufficient, said Lowell Goddard, counsel assisting the commission. In her final submission, she said that questions had been raised whether it was reasonable to hold such views in 1966 and the later years. Miss Goddard said similar studies of C.I.S. patients had been conducted. The studies, she said, had shown the disease had the potential to develop into invasive cancer.

She cited the evidence of two overseas cancer experts who had appeared at the inquiry. “Professor (Ralph) Richart mentioned that there was circumstantial evidence reported in the early 1960 s suggesting that the concept of C.I.S. as a cancer precursor was valid, and he went on to give some of that evidence.” Professor Per Kolstad had told the inquiry that in the early 19605, most experts in Europe, the United States and Australia considered C.I.S. a precursor of invasive cervical cancer, Miss Goddard said. “All the medical ex-

perts who came from outside of National Women’s Hospital to give evidence before the inquiry were unanimous that the only dilemma over C.I.S. during the entire relevant period and today is not whether it invariably progresses, but in what proportion of cases it will progress if untreated.” By the end of 1969, she said, it had become apparent that following National Women’s Hospital patients with persistent C.I.S. was unsafe.

tive cytology. “In my submission, it is open to Your Honour to conclude that the study should have been stopped at that time,” said Miss Goddard. The policy, however, continued at National Women’s under Dr Green, despite formal concern being raised in 1972 and 1973. “Perhaps the only explanation (for the continuation) which is conceivable is that Dr Green developed an irrational attachment to his theory, and was unable to recognise it was putting his patients at risk.”

Three cases of invasion had occurred in patients who had been under observation for more than a year with continuing posi-