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Complaint by Medical Board South Australia to Medical Tribunal re: Dr Colin Manock

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South Australia

In the Medical Professional Conduct Tribunal

Between

The Medical Board of South Australia (Complainant)

And

Dr Colin Henry Manock (Respondent)

Medical Practice Act 2004

Complaint Pursuant to Section 51 (2)(b) and Section 57 (1)

The Medical Board of South Australia, pursuant to the provisions of Section 51(2)(b) and Section 57(1) of the Medical Practice Act, 2004, hereby makes complaint that there is proper cause for disciplinary action against a registered person, Dr Colin Henry Manock (hereinafter referred to as “the respondent”) of c/o Lawson Smith Lawyers, Level 11, 1 King William Street Adelaide SA 5000.

At all material times the respondent was registered on the general register and specialist register pursuant to the Act.

The grounds upon which the complaint is made are as follows:

1. The respondent’s conduct in relation to the provision of medical treatment was at the relevant times incompetent and / or negligent within the meaning of “unprofessional conduct” as defined in Section 3(1) of the Medical Practice Act 2004.

Particulars

1.1 In or about March 1994 failed to conduct an adequate post-mortem examination of Ms Anna Jane Cheney in that he:

1.1.1. Failed to make and retain adequate written records of his findings and observations, failed to record and retain records of the weights of organs, failed to record and maintain records of the height and weight of the body, failed to collect and preserve adequate histological material; and by reason thereof rendered any future substantiation of a particular observation or observations impossible;

1.1.2. Failed to collect and retain adequate tissue and other body samples from relevant organs, suspected bruises and body fluids to enable adequate and proper histological examination;

1.1.3. Failed to collect, or arrange to be collected adequate photographic records of major findings, collected and retained black and white photographs which were of poor quality and failed to make use of colour photography;

1,2 In reaching his opinion as to the cause and manner of death of Ms Cheney, namely non-accidental drowning, he failed to consider and exclude (if appropriate) all reasonable and feasible alternative hypotheses in order to seek to disprove his stated conclusion and opinion as to the cause and manner of death.

In the foregoing the respondent:

(b) Is guilty of negligence in relation to the provision of medical treatment.

Dated the 14th day of January 2008

Signed Dr Melissa Slattery
Deputy Presiding Member for and on behalf of the Medical Board of South Australia

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