Complaints: How to Avoid Them and What to Do When You Get One
Complaints: How to avoid them and what to do when you get one
Organised and facilitated by CMCNZ, delivered by the Medical Protection Society • Wed 15 April 2026 • 7:00–8:00pm
(arrive from 6:30pm in-person)
Free event
Open to CMCNZ-registered practitioners
Attendance Options
In-person (capped) + Online (Teams) • Recording available afterwards on the CMC website
Scroll to the bottom of the page to select the desired attendance option before registering
Venue (in-person)
New Zealand College of Chinese Medicine
321 Great South Road, Ellerslie, Auckland
Parking:
Parking at the venue is limited. There is plenty of free public parking nearby, including Wairakei Street and Williams Avenue.
Online access (Teams)
Meeting ID: 488 058 488 145 07 •
Passcode: W6SV9tQ2
About this session
Receiving and responding to complaints are a normal and inevitable part of being a health practitioner but some clinicians receive more complaints than others. In New Zealand, complaints are rising. In 2024, the Health and Disability Commissioner received more complaints than ever before—a 52% increase over five years. For Chinese medicine, most complaints are about communication, consent, boundaries, or dissatisfaction with treatment.
What is the key to fewer complaints? When we receive a complaint, the way we manage it can either help to resolve it or make it a lot worse. Come to this interactive talk as we explore ways to reduce your risk of complaint and show you how to manage complaints when they happen to get the best outcome. We will use real-life, Chinese medicine in-practice scenarios to illustrate practical ways to handle these situations effectively and with confidence.
Presenters
Dr Samantha King (Primary presenter)
Dr Samantha King is a graduate of Otago Medical School. She has worked in General Practice and A&M clinics in Auckland since 1991 and is a Fellow of the College of General Practitioners. She also holds a Diploma of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and a Masters in Healthcare Law and Ethics. She has been with MPS since 2012 and now works full time as a Medicolegal Consultant whilst working part time as a South Auckland GP. As a member of the Medical Protection faculty, Sam regularly presents at workshops, conferences and practices throughout New Zealand and has also presented internationally. Sam is married with three adult children and enjoys fishing off the back of their boat.
Dr Chao-Yuan Chen
Dr Chao-Yuan Chen is a graduate of the University of Auckland Medical School. She is a Fellow of the Australia and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists and works as a Specialist Anaesthetist in Auckland. She holds a Masters of Medical Law and Ethics and works as a Medicolegal Consultant at MPS.
Registration notes:
In-person places are limited to 100 and may close earlier if capacity is reached. In-person registrations close 31 March 2026. Online attendance is available for all CMCNZ-registered practitioners.
Registration
Registration is closed.