Dr Leona Wilson, of Wellington
Dr Leona Wilson, of Wellington, received the Insignia of an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to medicine, in particular anaesthesia. Dr Wilson has contributed to anaesthesia, medicine, education and social issues in New Zealand for 20 years. She was co-founder of the New Zealand Medical Law Reform Group, which advanced changes to the medical manslaughter provisions of the Crimes Act. The Crimes Amendment Act has contributed to patient safety and the open reporting and assessment of sentinel and serious events within the healthcare system. She is an advocate for the re-introduction of Anaesthesia Perioperative Mortality Reporting in New Zealand and has been at the leading edge of medical education in anaesthesia. In 2008 she became the first woman and the first New Zealand President of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists, having previously held many positions within the College. Dr Wilson was formerly a member of the New Zealand Medical Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal.