Health Minister Stephen Wade tells Crown Solicitor chemotherapy underdosing inquest must continue

THE government has instructed the Crown Solicitor to oppose a bid by doctors to shut down an inquest into chemotherapy underdosing in SA hospitals.

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HEALTH Minister Stephen Wade will support the chemotherapy underdose victims by opposing an eleventh hour bid in the Coroner’s Court to shut the inquest down.

Mr Wade today requested the Crown Solicitor oppose a bid by the senior doctors implicated in the scandal to shut down the inquest 15 months after it began.

“The State Government does not support the challenge brought by the doctors - we support the continuation of the inquest,” Mr Wade said.

Lawyers for the haematologists — excluding Flinders Medical Centre Professor Bryony Kuss who withdrew from the submission — this week made a last-ditch attempt to prevent the deputy coroner Anthony Schapel from making findings relating to the deaths of Chris McCrae, Johanna Pinxteren, Bronte Higham and Carole Bairnsfather, all of whom relapsed and died after their recovery hopes were compromised.

Darrell Trim QC, for the doctors, told Mr Schapel he had no jurisdiction and the inquest was never properly constituted because the deaths were not reportable under the Coroner’s Act.

Patient Andrew Knox, who relapsed and almost died last year, said he was encouraged the Liberal Government was continuing its support for the inquiry into the chemotherapy underdosing.

“The reality is, they have supported us and all of our issues right through,” Mr Knox said.

Mr Knox said he hoped lawyers for the Crown would also provide arguments as to why it opposed the jurisdictional challenge rather than just making its position known.

“Given their resources, they ought to have a submission about the law and why they support the coroner’s position,” Mr Knox said.

Hearings will resume on Wednesday but Mr Schapel is not expected to rule on the jurisdiction issue for some weeks, leaving the fate of the inquest in limbo.