Sprott Slams Minister Of Health For Misleading Media Comment Regarding Coroner's Findings
Dr Jim Sprott has strongly criticised Minister of Health Annette King for statements made by the Minister regarding the
Wellington Coroner's recent findings about an infant suffocation.
A five-month-old Paraparaumu baby suffocated in March 1999 on a cot mattress which had been left in its thin plastic
shipping wrapper.
On Monday 5 March Ms King was reported as stating that she had received a copy of the Coroner's report and would be
consulting with health groups on appropriate action. She said the Coroner's report revealed much-needed information
about the dangers of babies' mattresses, and that parents needed sound advice on the issue of cot death.
"In actual fact, the Coroner's findings did not address so-called dangers of babies' mattresses," said Dr Sprott. "They
related solely to thin plastic wrappers used for storing and shipping mattresses. Furthermore, the Coroner specifically
excluded the issue of cot death from the inquest hearing."
Today Ms King's media adviser, Mr John Harvey, stated that the Minister had not seen the Coroner's report.
"It would have been helpful if the Minister had actually read the Coroner's findings before commenting on them," said Dr
Sprott.