The HCCC prosecuted general surgeon Dr Gregory Robinson before the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (‘the Tribunal’), in relation to his management of 4 patients at Shoalhaven District Memorial Hospital.
Allegations were found proven as follows:
- On 17 February 2015, a patient was admitted under Dr Robinson with symptoms of vomiting and suspicion of an incarcerated abdominal wall hernia. Dr Robinson performed a laparotomy and bowel resection on the patient later that day. Dr Robinson delayed his review of the patient and he inappropriately conducted major surgery on the patient contrary to his agreement with the anaesthetist to limit the surgery, given the patient’s clinical condition.
- On 10 December 2013, a 10 year old boy, was admitted under Dr Robinson to the hospital complaining of abdominal pain. Dr Robinson failed to examine or assess the boy until the morning of 13 December 2013 and he inappropriately relied on a first year surgical trainee and resident to examine the patient in his absence.
- On 24 November 2010, a patient was on the operating table, anaesthetised and intubated with Dr Robinson ready to perform repair of a left inguinal hernia. Dr Robinson left the patient on the operating table intubated without allowing the operation to proceed for some time, and threatened to stop operating on the patient until another of his patients was admitted into hospital.
Dr Robinson had a history of depression and narcotics abuse from 2000, which lead to the him being on the New South Wales Medical Council and Board’s impairment program from 2002.
The doctor explained that he had voluntarily ceased practising in 2015 because he felt that he needed time to heal after the incidents which gave rise to these proceedings. The Tribunal noted that during the last 12 months he had undertaken reading, meditation, engaged in Buddhism and developed strategies for dealing with stress.
The Tribunal found that Dr Robinson was impaired and imposed a 2 year ban from practice from 26 February 2018.