New laws will mean patients in NSW are protected from doctors' misconduct

The Health Minister for New South Wales Reba Meagher has announced plans to introduce the mandatory reporting by medical practitioners of their colleagues in instances of gross misconduct.

The legislation will be an amendment to the Medical Practice Amendment Bill, which is already before parliament, to accommodate mandatory reporting in NSW hospitals.

Ms Meagher says the legislation will target cases of sexual abuse, drug or alcohol abuse while practising, or any conduct which is considered a gross departure from accepted standards.

The Health Minister says recent claims regarding the alleged misconduct of Bega doctor Graeme Reeves have prompted the planned legislation and illustrate the need for such laws.

Hundreds of women allegedly suffered unnecessary and sometimes horrific gynaecological procedures over several months in 2002 at the hands of Reeves; he is alleged to have mutilated them while practising at Bega and Pambula on the NSW South Coast while apparently de-registered.

The legislation will mean in fact that doctors will be required by law to report on their colleagues if they suspect they are engaged in gross misconduct.

Ms Meagher says the deeply disturbing and harrowing accounts recently revealed by some patients has left the public in need of re-assurance that the misconduct of doctors will not go unreported and serious matters will be brought to light and if necessary investigated.

The Health Care Complaints Commission (HCCC) has received 12 phone calls and 4 written complaints from women who had been patients of Dr. Reeves in addition to 27 received over the past few years.

A telephone counselling and support service has been established by NSW Health to support former patients of Dr. Reeves and the NSW Government has also instructed NSW Health to ensure any medical negligence claims are promptly evaluated prior to the commencement of any formal legal proceedings.

Ms Meagher says other changes are also being considered to health legislation and rejects any suggestion that the new legislation is merely a knee-jerk reaction to the events of last week.

The Minister believes the medical board should have the power to look at patterns of behaviour, that go back over the years.

She says the bill would also force the professional disciplinary bodies such as the NSW Medical Board, the HCCC and the NSW Medical Tribunal to take into account a doctor's history of complaints when determining what prosecution and disciplinary decisions were necessary.

Current laws mean the individual organisations focus in the main on resolving individual complaints rather than looking at a doctor's history.