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Opinion/05HDC16711
Parties involved
Baby A
Mrs A
Mr A
Dr B
Dr C
Ms D
A District Health Board
Consumer
Consumer/Complainant
Complainant
Provider/Obstetrician
Provider/Obstetrician
Provider/Midwife
Provider
Complaint
In June 2002 the Commissioner received a complaint from Mr and Mrs A regarding
the services provided to Mrs A and Baby A by Dr B. The Commissioner did not take
action on the complaint in 2002 as, based on the information that was available at the
time, there did not appear to be an apparent breach of the Code of Health and
Disability Services Consumers’ Rights (the Code).
Mr and Mrs A provided new information (ie, ACC’s review decision accepting this
claim as “medical mishap” following advice by obstetrician Dr Jenny Westgate) for
the Commissioner to consider in 2005. The Commissioner re-assessed the complaint
and sought preliminary expert advice. As a result of that review, the Commissioner
decided to investigate the complaint. The following issues were identified for
investigation:
Whether Dr B provided services of an appropriate standard to Mrs A and Baby A
during Mrs A’s labour and the delivery of Baby A on 10/11 February 2001. In
particular:
• The use of syntocinon during the first stage of labour;
• The monitoring of Mrs A and Baby A during the second stage of labour.
An investigation was commenced on 18 November 2005.
19 September 2006 1
Names have been removed to protect privacy. Identifying letters are assigned in alphabetical order
and bear no relationship to the person’s actual name.