"The public reporting of data that is misleading, incomplete or otherwise of poor quality could erode public confidence in the health system. "Professionalism in a 21st-century doctor should include a commitment to the collection and publication of meaningful outcomes data." He credits the Herald's request for leading to "a greater level of commitment in the health sector with regard to the collection, analysis and publication of healthcare intervention outcomes data". In his 32-page report, Professor Paterson says the risk-adjusted data can't be released under the Official Information Act as it doesn't exist, but he notes some specialties, including cardiac surgery, are working to produce better data. He accepted health agencies' arguments the existing data doesn't permit meaningful comparisons and its release could be harmful.

Source: New Zealand Herald June 29, 2016 17:01 UTC