EXCLUSIVE: The state coroner's office has confirmed it is investigating disturbing claims from a metropolitan hospital doctor that a patient was taken to the morgue before they had died.
The state coroner's office has confirmed it is investigating disturbing claims from a metropolitan hospital doctor that a patient was taken to the morgue before they had died.
"After receiving notification from a doctor at the Rockingham Hospital of the death of 55-year-old man, the Coroner’s Court on Monday 3 October, commenced to investigate whether the death is a reportable death," a statement read.
Business News revealed this morning that Kevin Reid, who was in palliative care, was transferred from a ward to the morgue on September 5, without a death certificate being issued.
The South Metropolitan Health Service has since confirmed that was the case, but denies Mr Reid was still alive.
On September 6, when the doctor was asked to certify the death, the body bag was unzipped and fresh blood was found on Mr Reid’s hospital gown from a tear to one of his arms, two limbs had shifted position and his eyes were open.
The coroner has been told the doctor then questioned whether the palliative care patient was actually deceased when moved to the hospital’s morgue because of the unusual post-mortem discovery.
He has told the coroner's office he refused requests from hospital officials to backdate the death certificate to fit with the time Mr Reid was taken to the morgue.
“I believe the frank blood from a new skin tear, arm position and eye signs were inconsistent with a person who was post-mortem on arrival at the morgue,” reads part of the doctor’s report to the coroner.
Mr Kevin Reid. Photo: Facebook
Rather than recording the death as occurring on September 5, when nursing staff reached that conclusion, the doctor put the afternoon of September 6 on the death certificate because that was when he did his examination.
“I also specifically asked about open disclosure and coronial discussions to which I was told the executive team would ensure this occurred if deemed necessary,” the doctor has told the coroner.
Other staff later confirmed that Mr Reid’s eyes had been closed at the time last rites were given to him, he had been placed in a resting position and dressed in a clean gown before being moved from a ward to the morgue.
But South Metropolitan Health Service chief executive Paul Forden said he was satisfied that Mr Reid was dead and put the anomolies down to unexpected events that can occur post-mortem.
He said the family had queried the recorded date of death, but was understanding of the circumstances around the timing.
"The nurse undertook the assessment on the ward, the doctor confirmed the following the day the patient was deceased," Mr Forden said.
"Ideally, you would do that on the ward."
The Australian Medical Association described the case as "deeply alamaring" and said the patient should not have left the ward without a fomral death certificate of life extinct report.
Opposition health spokeswoman Libby Mettam described the case as horrific.
"It is deeply disturbing that a direction may have been given to a doctor to backdate the death certificate," she said.
"It reeks of cover-up. It points to a health system which is under extraordinary pressure and raises the question of what more needs to happen before the McGowan government takes the crisis in the health system seriously."
Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson said the investigations need time to determine what happened.
“I am concerned about these serious allegations and requested an urgent briefing from South Metro Health Service (SMHS), who have advised that an investigation is underway," she said.
“SMHS is in contact with the patient’s family. For the sake of all staff involved and importantly the family, it is important that we allow the investigation, and any external investigation, to run its course.
“I would ask media to respect the family’s request for privacy at this time.”
The opposition praised the doctor and believes some elements of the allegations need to be investigated by the Corruption and Crime Commission.
Business News understands the CCC is looking at the case.
"There is such great value in this doctor speaking up," Ms Mettam said.
"It also raises the question of how many other incidents are happening across the system on the McGowan government's watch."
The case came to a head when the funeral director for the family questioned the hospital about the date on the death certificate because family members were told their loved one had died on September 5.
At that point, according to the claims being investigated by the coroner, the doctor was asked by the hospital to backdate the death.
They refused to make the change and notified the head of their department.
“I believe there is governance, compliance and integrity issues,” the doctor’s report to the coroner reads.
Health authorities have confirmed the doctor was asked twice to backdate the death certificate.
"The doctor raised concerns appropriately with the coroner's office," Mr Forden said.
"I would not try to suppress anybody in a medical profession raising concerns."
The case also prompts questions about staff shortages and bed availability pressures at the hospital because the patient, who was categorised as an anticipated death, was moved to the morgue without the standard death certificate process occurring for hours.
Business News understands the coroner has been told that four pages of clinical notes prepared by the doctor about the controversial case should be found attached to the patient’s file.
Last year, Rockingham General Hospital received a funding boost from the McGowan government to open 30 new beds as part of a new modular ward built on the Elanora Drive medical site in the premier’s electorate.
“I am pleased that patients across Rockingham and the south metropolitan corridor will now have access to this new facility,” Mark McGowan said at the time.
The South Metropolitan Health Service, which oversees Rockingham, has been contacted for comment.
