Roman Hasil and the Whanganui DHB - Health and Disability ...

Health and Disability Commissioner
Hospital prior to the induction of labour. She said that if she was not augmented, then at
least they had staff on duty 24 hours to support her, and she would have an induction of
labour first thing in the morning. Midwife D felt unsafe to continue to care for the
woman, as she (the midwife) had already lost one night’s sleep, and she had no back-up
care for other clients who were also overdue. Midwife D felt that Dr Hasil would not
listen to her request for admission, saying that she was just trying to “dump her on
Wanganui”. Dr Hasil explained that he considered that there was no obstetric indication
to admit the woman. Midwife D told him that she would send her to Palmerston North
and cancelled the induction of labour for the next day. The patient was augmented and
gave birth at 3.31am the next morning.
Dr A recalls Dr Hasil’s explanation of the matter, which was that he had talked to
Midwife D in a half-joking frivolous manner, and that she had taken it the wrong way
and had put the phone down.
Patient G (complaint 1155)
On 1 June 2006, Patient G signed a consent form for the “marsupialisation of Left
Bartholin’s Cyst 21 ”. Dr Hasil performed surgery on 7 July 2006 at Wanganui Hospital,
and Patient G was discharged. Five days later when the swelling had settled, she
wondered why she was swollen and uncomfortable on both sides of her body. She then
discovered that she had sutures on both the left and right labia. She contacted her general
practitioner, who confirmed that she had had surgery on both sides, but there was no
indication as to why. Her general practitioner suggested they wait for the operation note.
In her complaint letter to the DHB, dated 7 August 2006, Patient G said she had agreed
to the removal of a left-sided cyst and later discovered from her general practitioner that
she had also had surgery on a right-sided cyst. The hospital staff had not informed her
that she had undergone bilateral surgery.
On 15 August 2006, the DHB acknowledged receipt of her complaint about the
additional surgery undertaken without consent and said that it would be investigated. Dr
Hasil was also informed of the complaint and that it had been forwarded to Dr A, who
would handle the investigation.
In a letter to Patient G, dated 19 October 2006, the CEO outlined the outcome of the
investigation into her complaint. The CEO stated that while Patient G was under
anaesthetic, Dr Hasil detected a similar sized cyst on the right side and decided to
perform a marsupialisation on that cyst also. He felt that it was a related problem and
that treatment was necessary and in Patient G’s best interests. This would prevent
another general anaesthetic with its associated risks. It was also pointed out that Patient
G had consented to “the treatment of any other necessary and appropriate related
problems”.
21 A cyst in one of the Bartholin’s glands, which are located on each side of the vaginal opening.
Marsupialisation is a procedure where a small, permanent opening is surgically created to help the gland
drain.
38 February 2008