A bitter dispute between senior clinicians and management at the Royal Hobart Hospital over patient safety has intensified.
Doctors say they have been misrepresented by health bureaucrats in a conflict over an audit into patient deaths.
Senior doctors tried to audit unexpected deaths at the Royal Hobart Hospital earlier this year but claim their attempts were blocked.
It followed concern that a lack of beds was leading to more patient deaths.
The Tasmanian Health Service (THS) claims doctors abandoned the audit because it did not meet ethical guidelines.
That has angered the Australian Medical Association's Tasmanian president Stuart Day.
"The attempted portrayal by members of the THS Executive that a clinician led death audit would be 'unethical research' is absurd, indicating a lack of understanding by the THS," he said in a statement.
The AMA insists conducting such audits of mortality rates is not just expected of senior clinicians — it is required.
"You would think that that was very important information and that that study should be undertaken and there is not excuse for this work not to be done other than Michael Ferguson trying to hide the truth of what's happening at the Royal," Greens leader Cassy O'Connor said.
The AMA and the Medical Staff Association wrote to the Premier in May complaining about the behaviour of THS senior management.
In part the letter said:
"The decision to abandon the audit proposal was made because of excessive restrictions to the point of obstructiveness placed by the THS and Governing Council.
"The decision must not be construed as flagging commitment, lack of professionalism, failure to appreciate ethical considerations or lack of understanding of the requisite research rigour."
Premier Will Hodgman is standing by THS senior management.
"We always welcome the views of the health professionals who work in our system as to how we can deliver better outcomes for our patients, but the assertion made as to those blockages have been rejected by the THS," Mr Hodgman said.
The THS maintains its own review into adverse events at the Royal is appropriate and in line with national guidelines.
