Shannon PitmanOpen Justice multimedia journalist, Whangārei·NZ Herald·3 Aug, 2026 10:59 PM5 mins to read‌The man remains unable to walk and uses a wheelchair for mobility. Photo / 123rfThe man remains unable to walk and uses a wheelchair for mobility. Photo / 123rfA man was left unable to walk after a surgeon operated at the wrong level of his spine, severing his spinal cord during surgery for spina bifida.

Health and Disability Commissioner (HDC) Morag McDowell found the surgeon breached the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers’