Dr. Suresh Vatsyayann, a Hamilton-based doctor, has been accused of professional misconduct by the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal. Vatsyayann's failure to diagnose bowel cancer in a patient led to the allegations. He further infuriated the Tribunal by keeping officials waiting for 30 minutes.

The Health and Disability Commissioner Investigation found Vatsyayann guilty of breaching the Code of Patients' Rights by failing to carry out sufficient examinations of his patient. Later on the woman was diagnosed with iron-deficiency anemia as well as gastritis tumors in her large intestine and liver by Waikato Hospital.

The patient's brother also accused Dr. Vatsyayann of not having physically examined his patient at all, but recommended increasing the intake of iron pills in order to counter anemia. The Director of Proceeding, Aaron Martin, said at the Commissioner's office that after consulting Dr. Vatsyayann, the woman became extremely anemic but the GPs were not informed about it. It clearly shows that Dr Vatsyayann failed to adequately respond to the situation over the following 12 months.

The case is still being heard. Although Dr. Vatsyayann has been alleged of serious offence, his conduct during the prosecution showed that he was least guilty of the offence that he has been accused of. During the proceeding he sat with his dog Didi.