20/20 Programme Highlights Secrecy Of Medical Council Hearings And Abuse Of Legal Loopholes

The Rt Hon Winston Peters MP, Leader of New Zealand First, today said that another alleged case of medical misadventure against Dr Graham Parry, which was documented on TV 3’s 20/20 programme last night, raised several serious issues of accountability regarding the Medical Council.

“First, if it is true that hearings of the Medical Council are held in secret why is this the case? The secrecy of these meetings, as depicted on 20/20, does nothing but increase the public’s distrust of these procedures where doctors are judging their colleagues and fellow doctors. This closed doors judging of one’s peers only serves to increase the public’s perception that the medical profession protects their own – often at the expense of the public.

“Second, if legal loopholes are preventing serious cases of malpractice being brought to court there needs to be a change in the law that addresses this,” said Mr Peters.

ENDS

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