Health NZ (DHB) and a consultant physician breached the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers' Rights for inadequate care and management of a woman with rheumatoid arthritis.

Deputy Health and Disability Commissioner found DHB (Health NZ) breached Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers' Rights for inadequate care to a woman at a rheumatology clinic. A consultant physician also breached the Code for inappropriate management of her symptoms with prednisone and failure to consider non-inflammatory causes of her ankle pain. The woman had rheumatoid arthritis and her treatment included prednisone, shared between the clinic and her GP.