Surgeon facing tribunal over treatment claims

A surgeon was today expected to plead guilty to charges before the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal after three patients complained about his care.

The surgeon has interim name suppression and is known only as Dr A.

The complaints include that Dr A failed to get a patient's informed consent for an operation, failed to properly use a surgical stapler with care and skill, and failed to operate with proper care and skill.

Among the reasons given by Dr A when he applied for interim name suppression were that a "white supremacist" website had published racist comments about him and there was a risk of harm to him and his family if his name was published.

A tribunal spokeswoman said today's hearing in Christchurch was expected to take just one day after Dr A indicated he would plead guilty.

It had earlier been set down for two weeks.

- NZPA