PHOTO: GETTY IMAGESA brain surgeon who refused advice from his colleagues has been stood down after his patient died of a brain bleed post-operation. When he asked Dr C what he was going to do about the pseudo-aneurysm, and Dr C replied: "(W)hat pseudo-aneurysm." It said Dr C had a history of persevering despite recommendations from others, and a culture of staying silent had developed. "Dr C told HDC that this was made sarcastically in reference to the brain-bleeding because it was so obvious that an injury had occurred." Caldwell said Dr C described being "burnt out", and in her view, Health NZ had an organisational responsibility to staff its service safely.

Source: Otago Daily Times March 23, 2026 02:32 UTC