Flatmate watched surgery
Wellington: A medical student at Wellington Regional Hospital organised for their flatmate to watch heart surgery, but did not tell the hospital they were not studying medicine, and the hospital never verified their identity, a review has found.
The man observed the entire surgery before doctors realised they were not a trainee doctor but a builder's apprentice.
The final year medical student had texted the hospital’s registrar about ‘‘an aspiring cardiothoracic surgeon’’ who was keen to observe a surgery.
The hospital assumed the man was a medical student and never verified their identity.
The breach was only discovered at the end of the surgery, when a doctor asked the observer about their future plans after graduation from medical school.
The matter was quickly escalated, and within an hour and ahalf the health board’s chief executive and chief medical officer were informed, and later the dean of the Otago University Medical School.
The privacy commissioner was informed, and the patient was apologised to.
The police were told and decided not to take any further action. — RNZ