Conduct cloud on navy doctor – COUNTDOWN TO WAR: [3 All-round Metro Edition]
John Stapleton, Patricia Karvelas. The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 13 Mar 2003: 6.
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Abstract
Deputy Chief of Navy, Rear Admiral Rowan Moffitt, told ABC TV last night the navy was aware of the allegations against Dr [McKenzie], but were confident theclaims were unrelated to his ability to do the job.
For almost three years, Lieutenant Commander Robyn Fahy has been involved in a dispute over Dr McKenzie’s professional misconduct. Her father, Tom Fahy, speaking on her behalf on ABC TV, said while Dr McKenzie was acting Medical Officer at the Sterling naval base in Western Australia, he saw Robyn Fahy who complained of headaches.
Full Text
A NAVY doctor under investigation for professional misconduct has been sent to serve on the Australian war ship Kanimbla in the Gulf. Douglas McKenzie, a naval reserve officer, is under investigation by the Medical Board of Western Australia, the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission and the Defence Ombudsman.
Dr McKenzie was also the doctor who supervised the controversial anthrax injections.
Deputy Chief of Navy, Rear Admiral Rowan Moffitt, told ABC TV last night the navy was aware of the allegations against Dr McKenzie, but were confident theclaims were unrelated to his ability to do the job.
“We’ve made the judgment … that there is no reason for us to have any concerns about his ability to do his job on this occasion in a theatre of potential operation,” Admiral Moffitt said.
“We’re confident that the issues that these allegations relate to are not such as should cause us any concern for his employment in the Gulf.”
Admiral Moffitt said Dr McKenzie had not been found guilty of anything.
For almost three years, Lieutenant Commander Robyn Fahy has been involved in a dispute over Dr McKenzie’s professional misconduct. Her father, Tom Fahy, speaking on her behalf on ABC TV, said while Dr McKenzie was acting Medical Officer at the Sterling naval base in Western Australia, he saw Robyn Fahy who complained of headaches.
Ms Fahy is unable to talk on the public record due to her employment with the navy. However, her father claims that after a 10- minute consultation, Dr McKenzie wrote a letter to a psychologist that ultimately led to her forced retirement.
Admiral Moffitt said the navy would fully assist any medical board inquiry.