Content Warning: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this story contains the image and name of a Kamilaroi/Dunghutti man who has passed away.
NSW Deputy State Coroner Magistrate Erin Kennedy has referred a Dubbo Base Hospital doctor to the Health Care Complaints Commission (HCCC) and called for NSW Health to amend a state-wide policy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients when she handed down her findings today into the death of Ricky ‘Dougie’ Hampson in 2021.
The 36-year-old Kamilaroi/Dunghutti father of eight who died in agony from perforated stomach ulcers after being misdiagnosed and discharged without any scans or review by senior doctors. Coroner Kennedy found that Dougie’s death was preventable and that his treating doctor, Dr Sokol Nushaj be referred to the HCCC for investigation and review over his conduct. She also made recommendations for improvements in cultural safety training at Dubbo Base Hospital and across the Western NSW Local Health District.
Coroner Kennedy described Dougie as an inspiration for what is needed for cultural improvement, recognition and change. She recommended NSW Health consider amending its policy on the recording of information of patients and clients regarding their Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander status to ensure all medical and nursing staff took this into consideration in the care of patients. Read the findings here
Karina Hawtrey, solicitor at the National Justice Project, said the Inquest heard evidence that Dougie would have survived if his ulcers had been properly diagnosed and how he was not given the medical attention he needed. “Evidence was also given about how racism operates in the health system and the need for culturally safe care to be provided to First Nations patients,” Ms Hawtrey said. “Dougie’s family are seeking justice, accountability and systemic change and we hope today’s findings will go someway to help achieve this.”
The National Justice Project is a member of the Partnership for Justice in Health (P4JH) with the alliance’s Co-Chairs Professor Juanita Sherwood and Mr Karl Briscoe calling on Federal and State governments to act now to prevent more Indigenous deaths in the health system.
“Dougie’s tragic death is yet another avoidable lesson on why having access to culturally safe healthcare is imperative for improving health outcomes for our mob,” the P4JH Co-Chairs said.
“Although the need for culturally safe health care has become more widely recognised in national policies, there is yet to be any clear guidance and genuine effort to embed this commitment through tangible and holistic approaches in our health system.”
Dougie’s parents Rick Hampson and Lydia Chatfield, his siblings Anita, Marley and Samantha listened to the findings today and his father read a statement to the media in attendance. Watch him speak in this video here or read the statement here
Media coverage
- Cognitive bias, not racial bias, led to Indigenous patient’s misdiagnosis: coroner
AusDoc. 22 August 2024 - Family’s ‘hell’ after coroner finds beloved father’s death was ‘preventable’
The Australian, 21 August 2024 - “Hospitals in this country kill Aboriginal people”: Family of Dougie Hampson’s condemn treatment that led to his “preventable” death
National Indigenous Times, 21 August 2024 - Hampson Findings
Channel 10 News, 21 August 2024 (VIDEO) - NSW Coroner refers doctor for death of Kamilaroi/Dunghutti man
NITV News, 20 August 2024 (VIDEO) - Coroner recommends NSW doctor to watchdog
ABC National News, 20 August 2024 (VIDEO) - Doctor who misdiagnosed Aboriginal man leading to his “preventable” death referred to medical complaints board
National Indigenous Times, 20 August 2024 - ‘Rotten to the core’: racism claim over fatal diagnosis
Australian Associated Press, 20 August 2024 - Coroner finds death of Dougie Hampson ‘preventable’, refers doctor to medical complaints board
ABC Online, 20 August 2024 - Doctor should be investigated over Indigenous man who died after hospital misdiagnosis, NSW coroner says
The Guardian, 20 August 2024 - NSW doctor should be referred to the health-care watchdog over fatal misdiagnosis, coroner finds
NITV News, 20 August 2024 - Family’s ‘hell’ after coroner finds beloved father’s death was ‘preventable’
News.come.au, 20 August 2024 - Son’s misdiagnosis was a ‘death sentence’ grieving dad says
The Daily Liberal, 20 August 2024
