Return
File Number: Mid10/144P
Practitioner: Mary Elizabeth Casey
Hearing Start Date:Hearing End Date:
Hearing Town/City:
Hearing Location:
Charge Characteristics:
Professional boundaries breached (Established)
Informed consent - inadequate (Established)
Communication inadequate/inappropriate (Established)
Note taking - inadequate/inappropriate (Established)
Codified professional standards breach (Established)
Treatment - care inadequate/inappropriate (Established)
Additional Orders:
Name Suppression to Practitioner
Practitioner granted interim name suppression
297Mid10144P.pdf
Name Suppression to Practitioner
Practitioner declined permanent name suppression
33410144P.pdf
Name Suppression to Witness/s and/or Family of parties
Complainants and family members granted permanent name suppression
298Mid10144P.pdf
Precis of Decision: Charge
A Professional Conduct Committee laid six charges of professional misconduct against Ms Mary Elizabeth Casey, midwife of Christchurch (the Midwife).
The charges related to five different patients. The charges arose out of the Midwife's pre and post natal care of four patients. In regards to the fifth patient, the charge arose out of the Midwife's involvement in the adoption of the patient's child.
A summary of the charges included that the Midwife:
- breached her professional boundaries;
- did not get informed consent;
- communicated inappropriately;
- took inadequate and/or false notes;
- wrote notes retrospectively without acknowledging these were retrospective notes;
- breached the Midwifery Code of Ethics and Conduct;
- provided inadequate and/or inappropriate treatment;
- undertook inadequate and/or inappropriate assessments; and
- responded inadequately to her patient's needs and requests.
Finding
The Midwife accepted that her overall conduct did not meet acceptable standards. The Tribunal found that each of the six charges were established to a very significant degree.
Penalty
The Tribunal censured the Midwife and cancelled her registration. It further ordered that the decision and a summary of the decision be published.