Doctor 'slapped toddler'

An anaesthetist has been accused of slapping a 3-year-old child across the face after he spat at her during a medical examination.

Hastings Hospital yesterday confirmed it had received a verbal complaint on Friday about the alleged incident and said that it was taking the matter "very seriously".

It did not know which anaesthetist, if any, was involved in the incident.

The hospital had made some preliminary inquiries and said it would follow up on the matter this week once a formal written complaint had been lodged by the family concerned.

Details of the incident were posted on the TradeMe website message board.

According to the family, the boy was now having nightmares, waking up constantly saying: "Mean lady, mean lady, I don't want to go back there."

It is alleged the 3-year-old became agitated last week during a pre-surgical check to have several decaying teeth removed and spat on the female anaesthetist.

The anaesthetist allegedly then slapped the child across the face.

The family has not ruled out referring the matter to the police.

Hastings Hospital would not confirm whether an incident report had been filed, but the boy's grandfather said the anaesthetist had since telephoned the family to apologise for her actions.

She had said she just "didn't think what she was doing and said she had no excuse except that she just lost it for some unknown reason".

The boy's grandfather said his grandson could be "a handful" but could not be blamed for provoking the anaesthetist.

The boy's mother had been so shocked by the alleged incident she could not even speak until afterleaving the hospital.

"He was just being a normal 3-year-old who got slapped for playing raspberries ... that is a no-no, hence the reason that poor anaesthetist is going to be in a bit of strife," the grandfather said.

Hastings Hospital board spokeswoman Karalyn van Deursen said yesterday that until the hospital had more details - including the names of the parties involved - it could do little about investigating the incident.

She said the hospital had received a call complaining about the alleged incident but "until we get the facts, there is little we can do".

"Certainly we have a very stringent complaints process. We acknowledge the complaint and will be investigating it - particularly one this serious," Ms van Deursen said.

"This matter is being taken very seriously, I can assure you."

- HERALD ON SUNDAY