The doctor, dubbed the ‘Butcher of Bega’, is already the subject of Strike Force Tarella, which is investigating scores of complaints of abusive treatment and botched operations centred on Reeves’s posting to the NSW town of Bega.
The former obstetrician and gynaecologist is linked to the deaths of at least eight babies and seven women, the Nine Network’s Sunday program reported.
NSW Police Strike Force Tarella has now been expanded to investigate the new claims following reports to the Medical Error Action Group (MEAG), the program reported.
MEAG spokeswoman Lorraine Long said there were 15 new cases in which Reeves was the attending doctor.
“There are 15 families that I’ve spoken to and those families have only just come forward in the last couple of months,” Ms Long told the Nine Network.
Almost half of the deaths of mothers and babies in Mr Reeves’s care occurred during an eight-month period in 1996.
Two were on the same day but at different hospitals.
Ms Long said there were several instances in which Reeves allegedly engaged in rough handling at child birth.
“During child birth Dr Reeves has put his foot up against the birthing table to use as leverage while he’s pulled the baby out and he has actually ripped the baby out,” Ms Long said.
“In one instance when he pulled the baby out, he fell back on the floor holding the baby and the mother believed the baby was strangled because of the angle the baby was pulled out.”
She said there had been no formal investigations into the deaths because babies classed as stillborn did not require a death certificate. “That means it’s not a reportable death, that means the coroner doesn’t look at it, no one looks at it.”
A NSW police spokesman said investigations were continuing into the matter.
One consequence has been the resignation of the top health executive responsible for the hiring of Dr Graeme Reeves, who has left NSW Health.
Dr Denise Robinson – one of the State Government’s most senior officials – finishes up as deputy director general population health and Chief Health Officer on Friday.
A NSW Health statement said Dr Robinson “wishes to avail herself of career opportunities outside of health”.
“I take the opportunity to thank Dr Robinson for her years of service, and for her contribution as Chief Health Officer,” NSW Health director-general Debora Piccone, said in the statement.
“I particularly want to acknowledge Dr Robinson’s achievements in areas of bio-preparedness, pandemic planning, public dental health services and in the governance of the ethics committee system within NSW Health.”
But The Daily Telegraph understand’s Dr Robinson’s decision has been encouraged after she was publicly outed as hiring the notorious Dr Reeves.
He is accused of mutilating hundreds of women while he working as a gynaecologist and obstetrician, despite being struck off in 2004.
Dr Robinson was responsible for the surgeon’s hiring in her capacity as chief executive of the local area health service at the time. |
