Pacific Waves for 17 July 2025
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RNZ News
an hour ago
- RNZ News
Woman says she was left with collapsing nostril after being 'upsold' unnecessary surgery
By Al Williams, Open Justice reporter of The otolaryngologist diagnosed a benign tumour inside her left nostril, which he said needed removal. Photo: 123rf A woman says her nose was "overserviced" by a surgeon who convinced her to undergo additional surgery she didn't need or want. Her nostril collapsed following the surgery and she says she was "extremely humiliated" by the doctor who refused to discuss the matter, saying he no longer wanted to treat her and telling her to leave his office. She told the Health and Disability Commissioner that the tests he undertook before surgery were not well informed and that he didn't give her enough information about the risks. According to an HDC decision released today, the woman met the otolaryngologist in August 2019. He diagnosed a benign tumour inside her left nostril, which he said needed removal. The surgeon said the woman wanted her nasal airway improved and that they had discussed additional surgery. But, her version was that he "convinced" her to undergo the surgery, despite the fact she didn't want her nasal airway improved and didn't initiate the conversation. She considered he had "upsold" her the treatment following the original purpose of her visit, to have the tumour removed. The surgeon said he had discussed the risk of additional surgery, and performed it in June 2020, undertaking procedures to address sinus issues, improve airflow, drainage and ventilation. Within two days, the woman raised concerns with the surgeon, telling him her left nostril collapsed when she inhaled deeply. He told her to continue rinsing it and to add a steroid spray to the rinse. After three weeks, she visited the surgeon and was advised that "the nose has settled down beautifully". There was no correspondence in clinical notes about the visit or that she had raised concerns about her collapsing nostril. Again, she outlined concerns about the nostril at a third post-operative appointment. She said the doctor then became defensive, agreeing that the left nostril was collapsing but said "that this was still a good outcome". His consultation notes show at that point, for the first time, the woman's complaint was documented. The surgeon noted near full healing, adding the tumour couldn't be ruled out, but he felt that the analysis was overly cautious and the nasal passage was entirely normal. He did touch on the issue of what intervention might be required to correct the collapse, discussing surgery. At that point, the decision said he acknowledged in his consultation letter that the patient had "certainly expressed dissatisfaction with a collapsing nostril with forced inspiration". The woman said there was then a heated disagreement and that she was advised by the doctor that he no longer wished to treat her and asked her to leave. She was, according to her recollection, "castigated" by the receptionist for her apparent rudeness, and left. She said she emailed the clinic with a complaint on the same day, telling the Health and Disability Commissioner that she had not received a response from the doctor or the clinic. The doctor said the woman's explanation of the final appointment was "wholly unacceptable" and that" something certainly didn't feel right about the way (she) engaged and what was being explained to her". He said the collapse was caused by forced breathing and that normal breathing post-surgery may take up to 12 months. He said the woman was "overly dramatic" and became upset when video images showed that the nasal cavity was not out of place. The surgeon said she was not interested in viewing the video footage or formatting a treatment plan going forward. He said he knew she could be "very unpleasant and aggressive" and, as he didn't wish to get into an argument with her, he "stood up and terminated the consultation". He told the commissioner he wrote a "full report" to her GP on the same day and advised her to seek the guidance of another ear, nose and throat surgeon. Deputy Health and Disability Commissioner Vanessa Caldwell said the doctor breached part of the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers' Rights as he did not provide the woman with a written acknowledgement of her complaint within five working days and missed an opportunity to resolve it. The doctor could have communicated clearly in writing, outlining the reasons why he did not accept the complaint and any proposed actions he intended to take, and any appeal procedure that he had in place. She was also critical of him for ending the doctor-patient relationship 'to avoid argument' saying it wasn't a sufficient enough reason to do so, nor was the woman making a complaint about him. "Consumers are entitled to ask further questions about the outcome of surgery and to make complaints under the Code." "Even if the relationship was deemed 'irretrievable', as (the doctor) submits, this should have been managed in a professional manner." Caldwell said the lack of information provided about the risk of a collapse was a mild departure from accepted practice and the doctor failed to explain why additional surgery was necessary. While she was unable to make a finding about the doctor's diagnosis due to a difference in clinical opinion, Caldwell said the woman "trusted" his judgement as an "expert". "In my view, this illustrates an imbalance of power within the doctor-patient relationship, where consumers may feel unable to challenge a doctor's recommendation or make decisions based on trust (as opposed to an informed choice based on knowledge about their health status and alternative treatment options). It was noted the doctor had however taken the matter "very seriously" and made changes to his practice, taking part in a consent development forum, data collection processes, formalised complaint procedures, a review of doctor-patient relationship guidelines and an increase in staff, including a plastic surgeon who specialises in nasal surgery. The doctor was told to apologise to the patient and undertake an audit of compliance with the complaints procedure. * This story originally appeared in the New Zealand Herald .
Scoop
10 hours ago
- Scoop
New Report Reveals The Grim Reality Of Heart Healthcare In New Zealand
A damning new report has exposed deep flaws in New Zealand's heart healthcare system, where access to life-saving treatment often depends on luck, postcode, and ethnicity rather than clinical need. Commissioned by The Heart of Aotearoa - Kia Manawanui Trust and prepared by the University of Otago, the ' Heart disease in Aotearoa: morbidity, mortality, and service delivery' report reveals a system plagued by chronic under-resourcing, critical workforce shortages, and deadly inequities. Trust Chief Executive Ms Letitia Harding says the report lays bare a system that is failing at every level. "Heart care in New Zealand isn't just stretched - it's on the verge of collapse. "We are failing in all aspects, and it's costing New Zealanders their lives." Key findings from the report include: Life-threatening delays: Half of all heart attack patients aren't seen within internationally accepted timeframes. Alarming workforce shortage: New Zealand has only a third of the cardiologists it should have. Systemic inequality: Māori and Pacific people are hospitalised or die from heart disease more than a decade earlier, on average, than other New Zealanders. The financial burden: Heart disease costs the country's health system and economy $13.8 billion per year A postcode lottery for care: Regions with the highest death rates -Tairāwhiti, Lakes, Whanganui, and Taranaki - have the fewest cardiac specialists. The deadliest conditions: Heart disease accounts for 20% of all deaths in New Zealand. The five heart conditions responsible for the majority are: heart failure, atrial fibrillation and flutter (AFF), acute myocardial infarction (AMI), subsequent myocardial infarction and cardiomyopathy. Trust Medical Director Dr Sarah Fairley, who is also a Wellington-based cardiologist, says the findings match what frontline clinicians see every day. "From inside the system, I can tell you that this report reflects what we see every day: a workforce stretched beyond safe limits, patients slipping through the cracks, and no end in sight." Ms Harding says this report should be a wake-up call for the Government. The Heart of Aotearoa - Kia Manawanui Trust is calling for an urgent government response, including immediate investment in public hospital cardiac care infrastructure - beds and equipment - and a national strategy to recruit and retain cardiology staff.
RNZ News
11 hours ago
- RNZ News
Pacific news in brief for 11 August
The "dengue knowledge, attitudes, and practices" study was launched at the House of Tonga in Nuku'alofa last week. Photo: Tonga Ministry of Health Tonga - dengue A study on dengue in Tonga has found inconsistent prevention practices and misconceptions about the transmitting of the disease. The "dengue knowledge, attitudes, and practices" study was launched at the House of Tonga in Nuku'alofa last week. It showed 94 percent of Tongans are aware of dengue, and 81 percent know Aedes mosquitoes are the cause. Ministry of Health CEO Dr Reynold Ofanoa shared a plan including household visits, village cleanups, and stronger local engagement. Papua New Guinea - incident The member of parliament for Lae in Papua New Guinea has praised a community for not retaliating after a violent incident. The Post-Courier reports the violence began with a robbery and escalated into a confrontation between two communities, leaving four dead. John Rosso, who is also deputy prime minister, described the incident as a "barbaric behaviour". Rosso said he does not know who is right or wrong, and urged the public to trust the justice system. Vanuatu - stunting A Vanuatu health officer has been researching stunting - which includes impaired growth and development - in children in the country. Ratu Bani said stunting can affect a child's entire life. The Vanuatu Daily Post reports his study listens directly to healthcare workers in the capital to learn what they see as the causes, challenges, and possible ways forward. He plans to share his findings with the Ministry of Health to help inform better approaches to reducing stunting and improving outcomes for children. Vanuatu - whooping cough After more than a week of suspected whooping cough cases on the island of Tanna in Vanuatu, the Ministry and Department of Health have yet to confirm whether the cases are positive. A report from the Department yesterday says there is a shortage of tubes needed to store collected samples and send them for testing in Australia, Fiji, or New Caledonia. The Department says it is still waiting for confirmation of the first samples sent to Australia. A reliable source from Tanna told the Vanuatu daily Post at this stage, no further samples can be collected due to the shortage of tubes. Guam - salvage Salvage crews will be working in Guam later this year to retrieve abandoned and derelict vessels. Guam is among the eight US jurisdictions prioritized by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the NOAA, under a four-year marine debris removal program. The Pacific Island Times reported that the Boat-US Foundation announced the NOAA's four-year grant to fund debris removal and education efforts, in communities heavily impacted by underwater wreckage that poses pollution hazards. In 2021, the Navy removed submerged wreckage from the Guam Harbor of Refuge in response to the local government's request.
