Treatment of boy with skin lesion
Source: Health and Disability Commissioner
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Treatment of boy with skin lesion
17HDC01139
Health and Disability Commissioner Anthony Hill today released a report finding an Emergency Department (ED) doctor in
breach of the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers’ Rights for the treatment provided to a boy with a skin
lesion.
The boy was taken to an ED by his mother, who had concerns about a lesion on the boy’s back. The boy was seen by the
doctor who offered two options for treatment - the first being painkillers and an urgent referral to the Dermatology
Department, and the second to remove the lesion in the ED that evening. The boy and his mother opted to have the lesion
removed. The doctor removed the lesion and sutured the site using ethyl chloride spray and topical lidocaine with
adrenaline as anaesthesia. The mother complained that the pain relief was inadequate.
Mr Hill considered that the ethyl chloride spray and topical lidocaine used to remove the lesion would not have had any
appreciable anaesthetic effect, and was inappropriate for the procedure.
Mr Hill recommended that the Medical Council of New Zealand consider whether a review of the doctor’s competence was
warranted. Mr Hill also recommended that the employing DHB consider whether the doctor would benefit from ongoing
collegial support and mentoring with respect to his documentation and clinical decision-making within the ED context.
18 February 2019
ENDS
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