Jon Stanhope and Katy Gallagher are attempting to deflect the serious allegations of a toxic work culture at Obstetrics Unit of the Canberra Hospital by turning the focus of investigations onto private obstetricians, Shadow Health Minister Jeremy Hanson said today.
The statements made by Mr Stanhope and Ms Gallagher could potentially intimidate and threaten obstetricians who are thinking about giving evidence to the review.
“Jon Stanhope and Katy Gallagher are now attempting to trail through every Obstetrician’s records in the medical board for the last 10 years, in what has been described as a ‘witch hunt’ by Canberra doctors,” Mr Hanson said.
Jon Stanhope said today;’
“It probably would be reasonable in this context for the external expert reviewer to also perhaps do an audit of all complaints to the medical boards current and say over the past 10 years that involve obstetricians,’ (ABC 666, 26/2/10)
“The complaints that have been made are specifically about the Obstetrics Department at TCH and by extending reviews to include the clinical outcomes of private obstetricians is a disgraceful attempt to distract away from the substance of the allegations.
“I have had numerous conversations with obstetricians and registrars who have been bullied and intimidated and they are disappointed a board of inquiry will not be established and are worried about the changing focus of the review.
“Why is Katy Gallagher trying to distract people from the allegations of bullying and intimidation at TCH? Why did she refuse to hold a board of inquiry and why is she now looking to investigate doctors that don’t even work at The Canberra Hospital?” Mr Hanson asked.
