The Australian Health Reform Association (AHReform)’s petition together with other organisations’ call for scrutiny into AHPRA’s handling of health complaints have been fruitful in attracting media attention.

This time, on 9 July 2019, Leigh Sales from ABC 7.30 report took up the trail and presented an adverse report to the public on the workings of AHPRA.

AHPRA officials have refused an invitation to be interviewed on the 7:30 report, and instead chose to reply in a formal letter defending its corporate credential and making statement that “we have improved our operations…”

Highlights of the report include the following:

1. The 7.30 report interviewed Mrs Pam Robertson, a victim of vaginal mesh surgery who complained to AHPRA about her ordeal under the care of her gynaecologist, but was frustrated by a lack of progress from AHPRA’s investigation.
2. Mr David Gardner and Mr Toby Latcham, both former AHPRA employees, revealed some serious problems within the regulatory body.
3. Mr Latcham raised his concerns but felt his concerns ‘fell on deaf ears and his frustrations ended up making him mentally unwell’.
4. Mr Gardner said “For the most part there was no time to sit down and go through a matter to obtain evidence. You were struggling to keep your head above water every day”.
5. Dr Gary Fettke, an orthopaedic surgeon based in Hobart who was investigated by AHPRA for almost five years, said medical professionals were also harmed by the investigation process.
6. Mr Gardner told 7.30 that “We all know about how many problems there are there, and AHPRA is very good at talking about how it's going to fix all of these things, and it's doing all of this work to fix it, and it never does”. He believes he was managed out of AHPRA for raising too many concerns.

Dr Gary Fettke, an advocate of a low-carbohydrate diet, was pursued for telling his patients to avoid sugar. The complaint was made by a dietician, not his patient.

"The cost to me has been enormous" he told 7.30.

He was eventually exonerated and received an apology for the way he was treated during the investigation, but he said he knew hundreds of health workers who felt persecuted.

"Virtually everyone who goes through the process seriously considers stopping their career … I've certainly considered that," he said.

"I know of many others, hundreds, who are in the same process."

If the allegations of Mrs Robertson, Mr Gardner, Mr Latcham and Dr Fettke were substantiated, then it would be difficult for AHPRA to maintain public trust and confidence that it could handle complex medical issues and to be able to judiciously distinguish between real and vexatious complaints. 

Furthermore, how can the Medical Board and/or the Tribunal then rely on these materials prepared by AHPRA to make a fair and proper determination against a medical practitioner under investigation?

AHReform has an active Facebook giving you regular update on events affecting our healthcare industry.

Over ten thousand people have now signed AHReform’s petition to end bullying in the healthcare industry. More support is needed to make an effective change.

AHReform will be writing the Minister of Health, the Hon. Greg Hunt and seeking his views on the effect of the adverse public perception of AHPRA generated by this ABC 7.30 and two Senate reports, on the public confidence of the regulatory body.

In particular, these reports raised two important questions:

1. Where is the accountability? 
2. Who is responsible for AHPRA's conduct and competence?

Despite the adverse publicity to AHPRA, AHReform continues to seek a constructive dialogue with AHPRA and the Medical Board, because it believes in mediation and reconciliation in solving problems and not be legal adversarial means.

AHReform applauded the successful national conference in Canberra on 8 June 2019 by HPARA to address these issues.

For those people who have been or are victims of vexatious complaints, AHReform would encourage you to email AHReform about your case.

Do not suffer in silence. You can contact AHReform via email: australianhealthreformgroup@gmail.com

AHReform will be monitoring progress in this area and continue advocating for and supporting healthcare providers and patients alike.