Honoured doctor subject of death inquiry By PHIL KITCHIN
The Dominion Post
05:00 23/09/2009
A doctor gained a top health award while his employers were investigating the death of one of his patients.
Gisborne GP David Whittet could now face a Health and Disability Commissioner investigation after a complaint from the patient's mother.
The award has angered Dawn Tuapawa, whose son Wayne Tuapawa, 25, died in January when he was being treated by Dr Whittet.
The doctor was given a Distinguished Fellowship by the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners two weeks ago. The award was for his work in Maori and rural health and for his efforts on the executive of the royal college.
The death of Mr Tuapawa was investigated by Dr Whittet's employers, Tairawhiti District Health Board and he could now face scrutiny from the commissioner.
Mrs Tuapawa complained about her son's death yesterday. Deputy Health and Disability Commissioner Rae Lamb confirmed that the complaint was made against Dr Whittet. The commissioner must now decide whether to conduct a full investigation.
Mrs Tuapawa said her son's partner was in a difficult position because she worked for Dr Whittet at Te Karaka's Waikohu Medical Centre, 30 kilometres from Gisborne.
"She read about [the award] in the paper and she was quite upset," Mrs Tuapawa said.
Dr Whittet declined to comment when asked if he told the college about the DHB investigation before he received the award at the college's conference in Wellington last week.
Last week he told a newspaper he had heard in advance that he would be getting the Distinguished Fellowship.
Wellington lawyer Matthew McClelland later phoned The Dominion Post to say Dr Whittet "won't be speaking to you". College communications manager Heather Watt said she had spoken to Dr Whittet and the DHB and neither "have made us aware of any investigation".
Mrs Tuapawa has also prepared a formal letter for the commissioner, saying her son had a successful heart valve operation at Waikato Hospital about four years ago and Dr Whittet had treated him after that.
The letter told how her son had regular blood tests at the Waikohu clinic to help determine how much medication he should get, Mrs Tuapawa said.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/2892000/Honoured-doctor-subject-of-death-inquiryAnother can o Diphyllobothrium latum?? ??Mrs Tuapawa said her son's partner was in a difficult position because she worked for Dr Whittet at Te Karaka's Waikohu Medical Centre, 30 kilometres from Gisborne.
