Court backs anti-vax doctors
Two doctors suspended for pushing anti-Covid-19-vaccination views have won district court appeals. Complaints were laid with the Medical Council about former radiologist Dr Peter Canaday joining Voices for Freedom presentations accusing the Government of downplaying vaccine side-effects. Dr Matthew Shelton faces complaints about his sending texts to 600 GP patients, discouraging fertile women and children from getting the vaccine, and suggesting to a patient the Prime Minister had faked her vaccination. Another patient with an auto-immune disease said Shelton advised her not to get the vaccine. But Judge Stephen Harrop’s judgment, released yesterday, said the Medical Council wrongly suspended the pair before investigations were completed. He said the doctors should have had more chances to sign voluntary undertakings instead, restricting their public statements. Council chairman Dr Curtis Walker said the pair faced ongoing inquiries and would remain suspended “until the court’s formal decisions are entered”. The council will consider whether to appeal.
Constable to be released
A constable jailed for raping a colleague while she slept will be released from jail despite the victim raising concerns with the Parole Board. Jamie Foster, 31, was sentenced to six years in prison in 2020 after he was found guilty of indecently assaulting and sexually violating his female colleague at a Northland motel in the early hours of February 5, 2019. He will be released on April 13 under a number of restrictions, including three years of electronic monitoring. The Parole Board confirmed last week that he had been granted parole but yesterday released its written decision, which says Foster still denies the offending. It said Foster’s lawyer “noted the victim’s concerns, but submitted that in terms of risk assessment the Parole Board could be satisfied Mr Foster is not an undue risk of reoffending”.
Teacher loses licence
A teacher of 30 years has lost his registration after using force on multiple students — including one case so serious he was charged with assault. Te Kawe Terence Ratu started work as a primary school teacher at an unnamed school in 2018. By October that year he had racked up seven allegations of misconduct or serious misconduct, according to a Teachers Disciplinary Tribunal decision released this week. In one incident Ratu grabbed a student’s arm, causing him to swing around and hit a wall, making his nose bleed. Ratu was charged with assault. He pleaded guilty and was discharged without conviction in 2019. He also attended a Man-Up programme, wrote an apology letter and paid $300 in emotional harm reparation.
Flu vaccine supplies up 40%
The Government has boosted flu vaccine supplies by 40 per cent as experts warn this season could be particularly bad because the country has far lower natural immunity. New Zealand usually uses about 1.4 million flu vaccines a year. Health Minister Andrew Little said this year two million would available and more people could get vaccinated for free. Already free flu jabs are free for anybody over the age of 65, pregnant women or people at risk of becoming seriously ill because of other underlying conditions. This winter, M¯aori and Pacific people aged 55 and over could also get the vaccine for free — an extra 39,000 people. College of General Practitioners medical director and Porirua GP Dr Bryan Betty said the flu was not a mild illness — about 500 people die of it in New Zealand in a normal year.
Gang man ‘waste of space’
A senior Whanganui Black Power member being sentenced for manslaughter was described as an oxygen thief by members of the victim’s family at his hearing yesterday. Wayne David Reardon appeared before Justice Francis Cooke in the High Court at Whanganui for the death of James Butler on April 22, 2018. Reardon had previously admitted manslaughter. Butler died from gunshot wounds after being shot at his Whanganui home during an altercation with a group of armed Black Power members who had travelled to his address in two vehicles to “tax” his drugs. Butler’s daughter told the court Reardon as a waste of space and oxygen. Justice Cooke said Reardon had taken a lead role in organising and directing the group during the attack. The five-year prison sentence he imposed is cumulative on the 4½ years Reardon is already serving for an aggravated robbery five days after Butler was shot and killed.