Chemo bungle compensation claims to be rushed through, SA Health Minister Jack Snelling says

THE 10 victims of the chemotherapy bungle, or their families, have each been offered a $100,000 lump sum payment, leaving the State Government with a $1 million compensation bill.

Chemo patient Bronte Higham gives evidence at the Parliamentary inquiry into the chemo scandal. Picture: Campbell Brodie

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THE 10 victims of the chemotherapy bungle, or their families, have each been offered a $100,000 lump sum payment, leaving the State Government with a $1 million compensation bill.

Five of the victims, including the family of a man who died last year, on Tuesday tried through lawyer Tim White of Tindall Gask Bentley to push for a higher amount but so far without success.

“We were hoping to finalise matters tonight but it appears it will take another day,” said one of the patients, Andrew Knox.

He said he and four others whose recoveries were potentially compromised by the chemotherapy underdosing, recognised the offer was substantial but were seeking more.

“We have asked the Premier to consider the families’ suffering in the light of advice we received,” he said. “It would be an expression of goodwill after such a long wait. Nothing can turn back the clock for those lost 15 months but some compassion would be appreciated.”

He said the amount offered was not life-changing and nothing could compensate for the stress or what was to come.

The daughter of one of the relapsed acute myeloid leukaemia patients took months off teaching to care for a family member and others were in similar situations.

“Nothing will give us back that time,” he said.

Kym Higham, the son of Bronte Higham, who has relapsed and has only a short time to live, said no amount of money would compensate for what happened.

“But at least it’s some form of recognition,” he said.

In a statement to Parliament, Health Minister Jack Snelling said the government hoped compensation would help patients and their families deal with the distressing event of the underdosing and the “unacceptable chain of events that followed”.

After dramatically softening its stance on compensation following a public plea from Mr Higham, the government will review its management of compensation for people suffering from a terminal illness.

“(So) in future their cases can be expedited,” he said.

Opposition health spokesman Stephen Wade said this should open the door for expediting compensation for women caught up in the BreastScreen SA bungle that missed cancer diagnoses in 72 women between 2010-12.

At least two have died, and the victims or their families are having to individually pursue compensation through the government’s insurer, SAICORP.

“The BreastScreen victims have been waiting much longer for their matters to be dealt with,” Mr Wade said.

“The Premier has intervened to get this issue off the table and the government must act to make sure that other victims are treated fairly.”