The report of an inquiry into the under-reporting of smear abnormalities in Gisborne has laid the blame for the medical scandal with former city pathologist Michael Bottrill and politicians and health administrators.
Although Dr Bottrill was found to have misread hundreds of cervical cancer smear tests, the report said his failures should have been picked up by the health system.
Because the system was flawed, the possibility an unacceptable level of under-reporting of cancer tests had happened elsewhere in New Zealand could not be ruled out.
The report was released in Gisborne today by Health Minister Annette King, who was to meet women affected by the under-reporting this afternoon.
