RAH stroke deaths inquest: Sole specialist on duty ‘lacked adequate clinical judgment’ according to colleague
A RADIOLOGIST accused of “lacking good clinical judgment” by a colleague was the sole specialist on duty when two stroke patients died at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, an inquest has heard.
- Radiologists’ affair ended in threats and misconduct allegations
- 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
A RADIOLOGIST accused of “lacking good clinical judgment” by a colleague was the sole specialist on duty when two stroke patients died at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, an inquest has heard.
State Coroner Mark Johns is investigating the deaths of stroke patients Michael John Russell, 60, and Leslie Robert Graham, 87, who died in April when two specialist doctors were on leave at the same time.
RAH interventional neuro radiologists Dr James Taylor and Dr Rebecca Scroop were on separate holidays and unable to carry out the clot suction procedures both patients needed when they were admitted to hospital.
SA’s only other fully-accredited specialist, Dr Steve Chryssisis, was called in but his attempts to save Mr Russell and Mr Graham were unsuccessful.
The hearing has previously uncovered startling claims of a love affair turned sour, rorting overtime and bullying within the radiology department at the state’s flagship hospital.
On Tuesday, Dr Taylor told the inquest he believed Dr Chryssidis lacked adequate clinical judgment and had shown little professional improvement since he started his career as a junior doctor at the RAH in the mid-2000s.
“I would have been reluctant to put him on the roster and not have anyone available to back him up,” he said.
Dr Taylor said Dr Scroop had most Thursdays off but would often attend the hospital on these days when cases arose.
When asked if this was deliberately done to exclude Dr Chryssidis, Dr Taylor said his primary goal was to achieve the best outcome for patients — not provide Dr Chryssidis with more work cases.
“I sought the best outcomes for patients — it was nothing to do with Dr Chryssidis’ involvement or otherwise,” he said.
Dr Chryssidis, now a radiologist at Flinders Medical Centre, told the hearing in August that he had been “inappropriately and harshly discredited when there were difficult clinical decisions (made) rather than being supported”.
The inquest also heard that Dr Taylor and Dr Scroop were meant to sign-off on each other’s leave whenever they applied for holidays to ensure there were no gaps in the roster — however this did not occur in April.
The inquest had previously heard allegations that Dr Chryssidis’ attempts to progress from part-time to full-time hours were thwarted because it would have taken away lucrative overtime pay from Dr Taylor and Dr Scroop.
Both earn more than $1 million a year.
On Monday, Dr Taylor told the hearing about an affair between himself and another radiologist Dr Suzanne McKeen, which had created “animosity” within the department when the relationship ended in August 2010.
Dr McKeen last week denied she had a sexual relationship with her colleague.
When the affair ended — after Dr Taylor’s daughter found pictures of a rendezvous with Dr McKeen on a disk — Dr McKeen made allegations of misconduct against Dr Taylor, the inquest heard.
Dr McKeen made repeated allegations regarding the overtime arrangement.
Dr Taylor also made a statement at the end of the day’s hearing, in which he apologised for having an affair and expressed his gratitude to his wife for standing by him.
“At the time my relationship with Dr McKeen caused considerable angst between a large number of people,” he said.
“Now that this has all blown up again … in the media, it’s been very embarrassing for my wife, it’s caused a lot of grief, my children are quite upset about it, and I would just like to take this opportunity to apologise for (the) relationship with Dr McKeen.
“It was very hurtful to a number of people.”
Dr Scroop is yet to give her evidence. The hearing was adjourned until February.