Long tribunal wait ‘not humane’

The Medical Council is being criticised for taking more than a year to investigate the conduct of Wellington doctor Deane Drew.

Stuff revealed yesterday that Drew was being investigated for allegedly entering multiple sexual relationships with vulnerable women patients over three decades at his city practice.

HELP support for sexual abuse survivors executive director Kathryn McPhillips said a lengthy investigation could be traumatic and 18 months was unacceptable.

‘‘Those timeframes are just not reasonable; they’re just not humane. One of the things that’s really important when people have been harmed is not to replicate the harm that’s been done to them.’’

But complainants spoken to by Stuff say the investigatory process is long and harrowing, with few updates and no support.

Clara (not her real name), who laid a complaint to the Health and Disability Commissioner about Drew in October 2016, is still waiting for the outcome of the investigation into the doctor she says pursued her for a sexual relationship while she was his patient seeking treatment for mental health issues.

Her complaint was transferred to the Medical Council, who referred it to its investigatory body, the Professional Conduct Committee (PCC). Members are appointed by the council but it operates independently.

Clara said she gave evidence to a panel of two male doctors and a female layperson. She had the option of bringing a support person but did not do so.

She did not hear from them from the time she gave evidence in August 2017 until the day after Stuff approached the Medical Council about this story, in late April.

Another complainant said the process had been ‘‘horrible’’.

‘‘I am a strong person, so I didn’t find it intimidating. But I think others would.’’

Until last week, the Medical Council’s website said a PCC should take 2-6 months. Yesterday, this had been changed to say 8-12 months.