23 Mar 2015

Watchdog faults surgeon over elderly man's care

5:52 pm on 23 March 2015

A former Blenheim surgeon has been told to apologise over the care given to an elderly patient in 2012.

Details of the case have been released in a report by the Health and Disability Commissioner Anthony Hill today.

Mr Hill does not name the surgeon, but Radio New Zealand understands it is Michael Parry, who resigned in 2013 after working at Wairau Hospital.

Mr Hill said the surgeon carried out a colonoscopy on an elderly man who had a bowel polyp with suspected cancer and diverticulosis.

He said he decided the best option was surgery but did not tell the man about alternatives or the risks.

Mr Hill said the man could not give informed consent, his other health issues including dementia were not assessed appropriately and colleagues' views were not sought.

The man deteriorated and died after subsequent surgery by surgeons who are not faulted.