The Medical Council of New Zealand has issued its second apology to survivors of Lake Alice – and said their first one, issued in 2021, was insufficient.
The Royal Commission Report, released yesterday, made 138 recommendations – and labelled the treatment of more than 200,000 people a “stain” on the national character.
The report included findings on how the council responded to complaints about Dr Selwyn Leeks’ treatment towards patients who were in his care at Lake Alice.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said these findings “did amount to torture”.
Today, Medical Council chairwoman Dr Rachelle Love said “we are deeply and unreservedly sorry” for the “failure and intergenerational consequences our actions have caused”.
In 2021, the Medical Council became aware of the Royal Commission’s inquiry. At the time, the council apologised, but was unable to provide reasons for the decisions that were made in the past in relation to Dr Leeks.
The council said today that, during the events of 2021, they “failed to come forward with a sufficient apology and to make amends”.
“We accept that we did not prevent further harm when we became aware of Dr Leeks’ conduct. The survivors had a right to expect to be listened to, and for actions to be taken to protect them from further harm, and we did not meet those expectations.
“Not only did we fail to hold Dr Leeks to account, we also prioritised the doctor’s perspective over that of the patient and neglected to maintain proper records of information. We were also wrong to say that we could not legally investigate Dr Leeks in the 1990s.
“We could, and should, have done so at the time.”
Love said trust is “at the core” of the council’s role.
“The public should be able to trust the medical regulator to take appropriate action to ensure that public safety is protected. The safety and welfare of patients and those who make notifications must be at the centre of what we do.
“We have heard the experiences of survivors through the Inquiry and we continue to have our door open to those we have let down.
“Our pathway now is to ensure the experiences of survivors and their whanau are forefront in what we do today, and we welcome the input of survivors as we improve our processes.
“We want to continue to work alongside the Children of Lake Alice as they begin, or continue, their healing journey.”
However, survivors think the way it was delivered falls well short of what they’d have expected. (Source: 1News)
Love added the findings in the report were “clear” the council did not hold Leeks to account for the “torture and abuse he inflicted on the innocent Children of Lake Alice”.
She said this included using electric shocks as punishment, injecting paraldehyde as punishment and misusing solitary confinement to seclude and unlawfully detain children.
“Dr Leeks’ behaviour was abhorrent, unconscionable and dehumanising.”
But Steve Watt, a survivor, did not accept today’s apology either.
He told 1News “it’s not personal” and “it just doesn’t wash”.
At the end of the video, the council chairperson asked survivors to get in touch for an in-person apology.