“Senior Doctors Welcome Extension Of ACC Cover To Medical Misadventure”
“Senior doctors welcome ACC Minister Ruth Dyson’s extension of ACC cover to injuries to patients while being treated
(medical misadventure),” said Mr Ian Powell, Executive Director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists,
today.
“Now the true ‘no fault’ principle of ACC has been extended to the treatment of patients”.
“Patients are the biggest winners. They should now receive much quicker cover by ACC if they have an injury while being
treated. Previously the threshold for ACC cover was too high, too complex and too bureaucratic.”
“This is an excellent solution that combines improving access to ACC cover for patients, while at the same time, not
reducing the accountability for doctors and other health professionals in the event of medical error.”
“We congratulate Ruth Dyson and her officials for undertaking a first rate consultation process. We and other
organisations were consulted early, were listened to, and then further changes were made before the decision was made.”
“We are not used to this kind of thorough consultation; it has truly made our knees wobble,” concluded Mr Powell.