A health centre has been directed to offer an apology to the relatives of a deceased man, whose death was attributed to prostate cancer complications following a lapse in referral to a specialist.
The Health and Disability Commissioner’s investigation revealed the centre’s oversight in not sending the patient, identified as Mr. A, to a urologist, which was a contributing factor to his demise.
Mr. A underwent prostate removal surgery in 2016, with instructions for the centre to seek specialist consultation if prostate-specific antigen (PSA) was detected in his bloodstream.
Despite setting up semi-annual PSA tests and reminders for Mr. A, the centre failed to establish an alert system for his case. Initially detected PSA levels, although minimal, were overlooked and marked as ‘OK’ without specialist referral.
Further tests indicated a rising PSA level, yet no referral was made, even as the levels continued to increase. It wasn’t until 2020, after Mr. A experienced continuous nausea and underwent additional tests, that a general practitioner made an urgent referral to urology upon noticing a significantly elevated PSA level and a missed earlier referral recommendation.
Sadly, Mr. A succumbed to the cancer, which had spread to his pancreas among other body parts.
In a report by State-backed outlet RNZ, Carolyn Cooper, the Aged Care Commissioner, highlighted the missed opportunities for intervention by various clinicians who failed to heed the urologist’s advisory or grasp Mr. A’s medical history comprehensively.
The commissioner determined that the medical centre’s actions were a violation of the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers’ Rights, emphasising the tragic effect of these failures on Mr. A and his family.
The report criticised the centre for its inability to link rising PSA levels to the patient’s historical clinical data and its inadequate administrative systems for coordinated care.
Among the recommendations were the implementation of a new message handling system, the introduction of a patient portal for test results, and a double reminder system for patients post-prostatectomy to ensure prompt review and action on test outcomes.
The commissioner also advised that the general practitioner and a nurse practitioner, who overlooked Mr. A’s PSA test results, issue formal apologies to his family.
OK…this appears to be a ‘normalised’ methodology of only engaging with ‘selective, in-the-know’ patients for referrals to specialists.
It isn’t good enough, especially when one has paid rates, GST and other taxes that fund ‘health care’.
What is also a misnomer is that the Doctors, Specialists, and Medical Practices ARE NEVER NAMED IN THESE MEDIA STORIES!!!
It’s in the interests of the Citizens and Permanent Residents that these Doctors, Specialists and Medical Centres are named and identified.
It’s especially interesting that when one calls one of the more professional healthcare providers to ask IF their family can be enroled or at least placed on a waiting list, those practices are usually closed for new enrolments. However,
The problematic practices however, seems to have openings all of the time.
It’s time to name these medical entities and hold them accountable.
And, since there is a backlog of specialist care in the public system, I recommend activating the Defence Force Doctors and Specialists to set up TRIAGE to treat low and medium-risk surgical procedures to clear the waiting list, or-
Bring in Doctors and Specialists from other Nations, review their legitimate medical credentials, and fast-track them into practicing and Permanent Residency.
And as far as Covid is concern, it’s a no-brainer; NEVER VACCINATE WITH AN UNTESTED, MILITARY-GRADE BIO-WEAPON!!