Uni probes claims about med interns
Rumours New Zealand medical students may not have ‘‘adequately’’ completed their overseas internships first surfaced in June – three months before an official investigation was launched.
Claims that Otago medical school trainee interns did not fulfil their elective placements in Bosnia are now being examined, with staff carrying out a review of student and supervisor documentation. Med students are required to undertake a 12-week placement in their final year in New Zealand or abroad but allegations have been made to The Press that some Otago University students pretended to undertake placements at overseas hospitals but instead falsified documents and went on holiday. It is understood at least one medical centre in Bosnia has since been blacklisted.
A man who helped organise medical placements in Belize for five years said some students – not necessarily from Otago – paid overseas doctors to sign off their reports so they could go backpacking in Central America.
A spokeswoman for Otago University said it ‘‘acted quickly once concerns about some elective placements became known’’.
The university is investigating the extent to which ‘‘placement expectations may have been different between the university and the students’’. ‘‘In June 2019 rumours surfaced that some students may not be adequately completing their elective placements in Bosnia and this information was brought to the attention of the dean of the Christchurch campus,’’ the spokeswoman said.
‘‘This was discussed by the Otago Medical School executive in July and the conveners of the sixth year or trainee intern year in all three campuses were asked to investigate.’’ That involved reviewing where students went, gathering student and supervisor reports from throughout the year and talking to relevant students, she said. ‘‘Enough evidence was gathered by September to establish the need for a formal investigation.’’ The results of the inquiry – including any implications for future supervision of electives – were expected in the next two to three weeks, she said.
Medical students at Otago and Auckland are eligible for a $26,756 (GST exempt) grant, per 12-month internship. The stipend is paid to domestic students in 12 monthly payments during their sixth year of study but in some cases can be paid as a lump sum.
And the Otago spokeswoman said the ‘‘funding of $26,756 for each intern is an annual grant covering their training for the whole year, including within teams in hospitals, of which the overseas placements form a portion of up to 12 weeks’’.
Warren Chapman has donated enough blood to fill his body 28 times. He encourages everyone to do it if they can.