Dear Coroner McTaggart (Whittle and Cain),
I write to you as chair of committee of community, legal and medical persons that is focused on ensuring healthcare regulation is appropriately reviewed, to ensure public and provider safety, noting the recent report – https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-10-22/james-griffin-launceston-nurse-child-sex-abuse-investigation/12802316.
We are also aware of the current investigation in South Australia of Dr Yung Yap – https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=AAWEB_WRE170_a_GGL&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.adelaidenow.com.au%2Fnews%2Fsouth-australia%2Fdr-yenyung-yaps-widow-demands-answers-over-the-death-of-her-obstetrician-husband-amid-a-medical-board-investigation%2Fnews-story%2F620e1778f42b09f99d8d363bf3349e19&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium). His suicide note attributed blame to the national regulator – AHPRA.
We are also aware of the suicide death of Dr Churchyard in Victoria (https://www.cabrini.com.au/news-and-events/news-archive/2016/a-very-sad-story/) and Dr Emil Popovic in Western Australia (a snap shot of the torment he endured is at – https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/images/stories/documents/council/SCFPA/Hospitals/Submissions/SCFPA_Hospitals_49.pdf). Discussions with Emil reflected his sense of inappropriate vilification – which the facts seemed to justify. There are probably many more.
And, the suicide death of a patient advocate, reputed to have been shut-out for raising concerns, is at https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-03/whistleblower-nurse-tim-griffin-loses-final-battle/12203290
Further concern about the robustness of the investigations by AHPRA is evidenced in a recent deformation action that has been filed (https://www.ausdoc.com.au/news/doctor-sues-hospital-over-defamatory-ahpra-notification), and there are many, many examples that support that the National Law is not fit for purpose. We would be happy to facilitate presentation of further evidence of both under investigation and over zealous review of clinicians.
We would like to have the opportunity to discuss our concerns about the National Health Regulator, our current review of the law, and how the above events (including in Tasmania) would reasonably drive a furthering of the call for change. I am sure the Tasmanian recipients of this email would also be happy to speak with you on the matter.
My mobile is 0418 345 565.
I have blind copied the committee and other interested parties – other public profile individuals are on the readable list, including the AMA representative, and interested Tasmanians; and I have attached documents of previous investigations of AHPRA that call in to question the quality of their performance.
Kind regards
Dr Paddy Dewan
PhD MD MS MMedSc FRCS FRACS
Chair, AHPRA change working party