RAH stroke deaths inquest: Three-year affair between RAH radiologists ended in threats and misconduct allegations

TWO Royal Adelaide Hospital doctors would have a sexual rendezvous at medical conferences during a three-year affair that ended with threats and misconduct allegations, an inquest has heard.

RAH interventional neuro radiologist, Dr James Taylor, leaves the Coroners Court on Monday. Picture: AAP/Mike Burton

• Inquest lays bare claims of affairs, bullying and overtime rorting
• RAH radiology department ‘had toxic culture of exclusivity’
• ‘Bad blood’ between specialists as radiologists protect their turf
• Department head — it was ‘an error’ to have both specialists on leave
• Two dead in RAH stroke scandal: How The Advertiser broke the story

TWO Royal Adelaide Hospital doctors would use conferences across Australia, New Zealand and the Middle East to have a sexual rendezvous during a three-year affair that ended with threats and misconduct allegations, an inquest has heard.

Coroner Mark Johns is holding an inquest into the deaths of stroke patients Michael John Russell and Leslie Robert Graham, who died when two specialist doctors were on leave at the same time.

The inquest is probing the nature of professional relationships within the RAH radiology team, which may have led to a rostering blunder when the two stroke patients — aged 60 and 87 — were admitted in April.

Interventional neuro radiologists Dr James Taylor and Dr Rebecca Scroop were on leave and unavailable to do the clot suction procedures — SA’s only other fully accredited specialist Dr Steve Chryssidis was called in but his attempts were unsuccessful.

On Monday, Dr Taylor, 57, told the inquest about his affair with radiologist Dr Suzanne McKeen — although she denies they had a sexual relationship. Dr Taylor said the end of the relationship in August 2010 created “animosity” between them.

He said the affair started when they were in Melbourne together and had gone to see Phantom of the Opera in August 2007.

Stroke patient Michael Russell — pictured with his wife Polly — died in the Royal Adelaide Hospital.

Dr Taylor said he was later asked to be a guest speaker at a cardiothoracic conference in Jordan, in the Middle East, and he invited Dr McKeen to accompany him.

“The meeting was over two to three days but we spent a week travelling around Jordan and seeing the sights,” he said.

But he said the relationship ended once his wife found out about the affair while he was away at a conference with Dr McKeen on the Gold Coast.

He said his wife had organised a surprise 50th birthday party for him at the Mt Lofty restaurant for when he got back.

“She was preparing a slideshow and my daughter had been tasked with collecting old photos of dad,” he said.

He said his daughter found a disk in his desk drawer, which contained photos of his conference rendezvous with Dr McKeen.

SA State Coroner Mark Johns, pictured in his office, is holding an inquest into the deaths of Michael John Russell and Leslie Robert Graham.

“My wife confronted me with the photos when I returned from the Gold Coast — one photo, I remember, was Dr McKeen in the bubble bath,” he said.

“She said she had been suspicious of a relationship with Dr McKeen for some time, however she was no longer just suspicious.”

He said he ended his relationship with Dr McKeen to save his marriage, including changing his flights and accommodation during an upcoming conference trip to Queenstown in New Zealand.

But he said once Dr McKeen realised the relationship was “irretrievable”, she made allegations of misconduct against him.

“I received quite a number of text messages from Dr McKeen — they were of a very harsh and threatening nature,” he said.

“They were threats to harm my children and harm my wife.”

During her evidence last week, Dr McKeen denied ever having a sexual relationship with Dr Taylor.

Another RAH radiologist, Dr Mary Moss, has previously told the inquest that the affair triggered a staff meeting where complaints were aired including “inappropriate sexual comments in front of patients”.

When asked if Dr McKeen’s complaints were that “Dr Scroop and Dr Taylor were effectively rorting the system for their financial gain”, Dr Moss replied, “yes.”

She said that in all instances she investigated an adequate explanation could be obtained, however Ralph Bonig, for Dr McKeen, pointed to several cases which Dr Moss could not recall investigating.

The inquest has also previously heard there was a culture of exclusivity with Dr Taylor and Dr Scroop — who earn more than $1 million a year — not sharing procedures in order to “protect their patch”.

Dr Taylor continues to give evidence.