Top RAH surgeon cleared of slap allegation
Senior Royal Adelaide Hospital surgeon Professor Margaret Davy has been cleared of any wrongdoing after it was alleged she slapped a nurse during a patient’s procedure in October last year.
An SA Health internal investigation has found the misconduct allegation against Davy was unsubstantiated.
The allegation was made public in an article by The Advertiser in January.
“SA Health takes any allegation of inappropriate behaviour extremely seriously,” SA Health Chief Executive David Swan said in a statement provided to InDaily.
“An accusation of misconduct against Associate Professor Davy was made in October last year and was immediately investigated.
“Professor Guy Maddern, Clinical Director Surgery, Central Adelaide Local Health Network, was asked to review all of the available evidence and make a determination.
“As part of the investigation, witness statements were taken from those people who were present at the time the incident allegedly occurred.
“Professor Maddern has advised that he did not find evidence of any wrongdoing and the allegation of misconduct was not able to be substantiated.
“All parties have been made aware of the outcome of the investigation and the matter has now been closed.
Davy – who is the Clinical Director of Surgical Specialty Services at the RAH and a Member of the Order of Australia – is currently on planned long service leave, according to SA Health.
Swan told InDaily he regretted that the allegations were made public in the media before the facts were investigated.
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“Allegations such as this are usually investigated confidentially through the department and dealt with through an internal disciplinary process if required,” he said.
“This process is in place to protect the reputation and integrity staff while the investigation is underway.
“It is regretful that these allegations were made public through the media before the investigation uncovered the facts of the matter.
“Due to the media interest surrounding this incident we are making the result of the investigation known to ensure this is also a matter of public record.”
