Lasantha Martinus

Specialist General Physician (Otago, NZ, 1983), FRACP (General Medicine, NZ, 1994)

[Lasantha Martinus @LasanthaMart]

@NZDoctor_news @RNZCGP @NZMAofficial @CountryGPs @TeOhuRata @GPNZ3 @minhealthnz @PharmacyToday In a bygone era, there was a DHB clinical team responsible for follow up. Important Xray/scans were reviewed by an independent radiologist at a weekly meeting, to minimise such errors.

[Lasantha Martinus @LasanthaMart]

@NZDoctor_news @RNZCGP @NZMAofficial @CountryGPs @TeOhuRata @GPNZ3 @minhealthnz ED visits are not entered into the national database as hospital admissions. Therefore, information not automatically available to other providers.

[Lasantha Martinus @LasanthaMart]

@NZDoctor_news @RNZCGP @NZMAofficial @CountryGPs @TeOhuRata @GPNZ3 @minhealthnz “He was given oxygen and allergy medication during his ambulance journey”
“symptoms had since improved”
“?? advised possible allergy to flucloxacillin”, and the diagnosis was listed as “Allergic reaction NOS [not otherwise specified]”.

[Lasantha Martinus @LasanthaMart]

@NZDoctor_news @RNZCGP @NZMAofficial @CountryGPs @TeOhuRata @GPNZ3 @minhealthnz Went to the bathroom feeling nauseous and collapsed to the ground because he felt so weak.”
“Ms C telephoned 111 for an ambulance”
Clinical examination findings of ambulance staff are not documented in the HDC report

[Lasantha Martinus @LasanthaMart]

@NZDoctor_news @RNZCGP @NZMAofficial @CountryGPs @TeOhuRata @GPNZ3 @minhealthnz ED notes
“had a sore toe and decided to take some out of date flucloxacillin”
“about thirty minutes afterwards started developing itchiness of his ears. Itchiness spread throughout body. Started to feel [short of breath] and constricting of his neck …

[Lasantha Martinus @LasanthaMart]

@NZDoctor_news @RNZCGP @NZMAofficial @CountryGPs @TeOhuRata @GPNZ3 @minhealthnz Due to limitations inherent to many diagnostic guidelines, the term possible allergy was used in ED notes when the description fits better with anaphylaxis.

[Lasantha Martinus @LasanthaMart]

@NZDoctor_news @RNZCGP @NZMAofficial @CountryGPs @TeOhuRata @GPNZ3 @minhealthnz “whilst an alert can be placed against a patient’s National Health Index number”, However, “this is not universally used to check patient status.”

[Lasantha Martinus @LasanthaMart]

@NZDoctor_news @RNZCGP @NZMAofficial @CountryGPs @TeOhuRata @GPNZ3 @minhealthnz Extracts from Report and comments
https://t.co/wUsHAOp0Qx
HDC expert opinions
“regrettably, in spite of national strategies aimed at improving the ability to share health information electronically across all DHBs, this has not yet been achieved.”

[Lasantha Martinus @LasanthaMart]

@NatalieAkoorie Specific comments about the role of intravenous fluids in the death was missing from the HDC/DHB summary. Physical examination sign of jugular venous pressure or central venous pressure measurement crucial before and after fluid administration.

https://t.co/7qC4VXyjSF

[The BMJ @bmj_latest]

"Type 2 diabetes can be reversed by substantial weight loss in the early years after diagnosis, and the pathophysiological basis of this is now clear."

This Analysis summarises the new understanding of type 2 diabetes
https://t.co/4IFrO3v0Nk

[Lasantha Martinus @LasanthaMart]

@NZDoctor_news @RNZCGP @NZMAofficial @CountryGPs @TeOhuRata If “some WDHB staff did not fully understand the purpose behind the Count Policy” then there are problems with clinical training”

[Lasantha Martinus @LasanthaMart]

@NZDoctor_news @RNZCGP @NZMAofficial @CountryGPs @TeOhuRata 2 year delay in action
Deceased patient’s wife stated that “had WDHB staff owned up immediately and properly apologised for the error straight away, she and Mr A would have been fine”
https://t.co/ghFznqlzwe

[Lasantha Martinus @LasanthaMart]

@NZDoctor_news @RNZCGP @NZMAofficial @CountryGPs @TeOhuRata The above statement demonstrates that relying on findings from patient complaints as the main source of data for quality improvement is grossly inadequate.

[Lasantha Martinus @LasanthaMart]

Australia making progress
"kinds of corruption risk in a rich country are not typically small scale bribes to low level officials, but in corrupt conduct that influences the creation of new laws and awarding of government business."
https://t.co/5xK9AXRLwz

[Lasantha Martinus @LasanthaMart]

@NZDoctor_news @RNZCGP @NZMAofficial @CountryGPs @TeOhuRata “every region will have enough assisted-dying health workers”
Yet judiciary review which blamed a radiologist for a reporting error, failed to mention the problems in the system which allowed a patient with peritonitis & sepsis to be sent home from ED.
https://t.co/Zvvh0FaBOf

[Lasantha Martinus @LasanthaMart]

@NZStuff There is more to the problem. Patient with rectal bleeding, weight loss, perforated bowel sent home from without excluding colon cancer. HDC report only address the problem. https://t.co/Zvvh0FaBOf

[Lasantha Martinus @LasanthaMart]

@NewsroomNZ @ddub_news Cancer diagnosis problems more widespread. Patient with rectal bleeding, weight loss, change of bowel habit sent home without excluding colon cancer. HDC report only address the problem. https://t.co/Zvvh0FaBOf

[Lasantha Martinus @LasanthaMart]

@NZDoctor_news @RNZCGP @yourNZMA @NZMAchair @CountryGPs @TeOhuRata https://t.co/XiTCE4c4l7

[Lasantha Martinus @LasanthaMart]

@NZDoctor_news @RNZCGP @yourNZMA @NZMAchair @CountryGPs @TeOhuRata Doctor providing the ACC report of this case was a member of the Medical Council of New Zealand

[Lasantha Martinus @LasanthaMart]

@NZDoctor_news @RNZCGP @yourNZMA @NZMAchair @CountryGPs @TeOhuRata https://t.co/hu0pQi4gJp