Coroner overrules health department bid to stop inquiry into hospital death
A Tasmanian coroner has rejected an attempt by the Department of Health to block an investigation into the death of an 82-year-old hospital patient. Subscribe now for unlimited access. or signup to. . .
A Tasmanian coroner has rejected an attempt by the Department of Health to block an investigation into the death of an 82-year-old hospital patient. Subscribe now for unlimited access. or signup to continue readingSave 30%All articles from our website& appThe digital version ofToday'sPaperAll otherin your areaA coroner has ordered an investigation to proceed into the 2020 death of an 82-year-old patient at Launceston General Hospital, overruling attempts by health authorities to block the probe. Picture: file. Coroner Leigh Mackey handed down the decision regarding the January 2020 death of Margaret Joyce Binns, who died at the Launceston General Hospital (LGH) after suffering severe head injuries and a brain haemorrhage following a fall at her home. Due to the extent and severe nature of the head injury, alongside her family's understanding of her personal wishes, Mrs Binns was provided with comfort care at the hospital over two days. A medical certificate cause of death was issued by former LGH executive director of medical services Peter Renshaw. Dr Renshaw certified the cause of death as an acute subarachnoid haemorrhage resulting from a subarachnoid aneurysm on a background of hypertension. The review panel recommended that several LGH deaths involving certificates issued by Dr Renshaw be formally referred to the coroner. As part of the coroner's investigation, medical adviser Dr Anthony Bell reviewed the LGH medical records. He concluded that the CT scan showed no evidence of a ruptured aneurysm, nor did it show evidence of trauma as the cause of the subarachnoid haemorrhage. Dr Bell suggested the subarachnoid bleed caused the fall, rather than the fall causing the bleed. Coroner Leigh Mackey ruled it remained unclear whether the fatal injuries were caused by the traumatic impact of the fall or an underlying natural condition, leaving the death unexplained and legally reportable. In her ruling, Ms Mackey dismissed the Department of Health's argument that jurisdiction only applied if a death was conclusively proven to be unnatural before an investigation started. "The trigger for jurisdiction is inexorably linked to the appearance of the reportability of a death," she said. "Preventing a coroner who, after investigation, finds a death to be natural from making findings, recommendations and/or comment, could frustrate the beneficial purpose of the act. "Ms Mackey ordered that the investigation proceed, including gathering direct evidence from the witness who was present when Mrs Binns fell. Legal counsel for the Department of Health and Dr Renshaw will be given an opportunity to make further submissions before any final comments on the medical death certificate are published. More from HealthAs it happensBreaking news alertBe the first to know when news breaks.