Vili Milisits died after an ‘absurd’ diagnosis of cognitive decline left him initially rejected for a lung transplant, parliament told

An MP has told parliament that Vili Milisits’ family believes the Vili’s Bakery boss would still be alive if not for an “absurd and inaccurate” medical report.

An MP has told state parliament that family and friends of Vili Milisits blame the health system and an incorrect diagnosis for his death.

Backed by the family, SA-Best MLC Frank Pangallo raised a number of concerns in parliament on Wednesday afternoon, attacking the much-loved businessman’s initial rejection from a waiting list for a lung transplant.

That happened after neuropsychological tests found the Vili’s Bakery boss supposedly had an abnormally low IQ and possible indications of Alzheimer’s disease.

“In his time of greatest need, the medical establishment and system dealt him the cruellest of blows and failed him,’’ Mr Pangallo told parliament.

In what he described as “disturbing, disgraceful, upsetting, and traumatic developments in the final months of Vili’s life”, Mr Pangallo tabled a series of documents that showed Vili had been identified as a good candidate for a lung transplant in June last year.

He suffered from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis – a condition that affects oxygen supply – but was rejected for a transplant after a doctor who conducted a series of tests raised concerns about his cognitive condition.

Vili Milisits with his wife Rosemary.

A Royal Adelaide Hospital referral to an Adelaide neuropsychologist resulted in what Mr Pangallo said was an “absurd, insulting, and inaccurate” diagnosis of:

■ Impaired mental capacity and an IQ of 84.

■ A memory so vague that he could not run his business.

■ The possible onset of Alzheimer’s disease.

The doctor said he “made the assumption that his oxygen levels were reasonable at the time of assessment” – an assumption strongly disputed by Mr Pangallo.

Before the tests, the head of South Australia’s lung transplant service at the RAH found that Vili was a good candidate for transplantation.

But following the tests he was not accepted at The Alfred hospital in Melbourne, Mr Pangallo said.

Several doctors in Adelaide battled to reverse the alleged misdiagnosis, and did so, with Sydney’s St Vincent’s Hospital then accepting him for a transplant. He died soon after receiving a new lung.

Mr Pangallo said: “An IQ reading of 84 put Mr Milisits in the category of an imbecile ... I and so many others who dealt and met with Vili around this time, and afterwards, can attest he was very cogent and still sharp as a razor.”

Mr Pangallo said Vili had blamed low oxygen supply and the unusual nature of the neuropsychological testing for the results.

“Frank, I am not a puzzles man. I am a dollars and cents man. Give me figures and I’ll show you what I can do, he told me,” Mr Pangallo said.

Mr Pangallo said that when nearing death, Vili had told him: “That doctor signed my death warrant. Do they want me to go away and accept that I’ll die?”

Vili’s son Simon Milisits told The Advertiser he backed Mr Pangallo’s comments.

Vili Milisits and his wife Rosemary were awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in the Queen's Birthday Honours in 2005.

Mr Pangallo tabled a series of other letters from doctors who questioned and disproved the findings from the tests.

“Things may have turned out much differently had Vili been given the chance much earlier, as was hoped,’’ he said.

“Vili was, of course, still very much in charge of his many business interests, taking phone calls, meeting and talking with staff each day and testing new products.

“He was also personally piecing together a $20 million business expansion deal. Not bad for a so-called dimwit.”

Vili and Rosemary Milisits on their wedding day.

Mr Pangallo said the transplant unit at St Vincent’s Hospital in was in no way implicated in the criticisms.

The only treatment to save Vili from his idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis was a transplant.

His lung transplant at St Vincent’s in March was initially successful, but Vili succumbed to complications arising from his already frail condition.

Mr Pangallo revealed to The Advertiser he had cleared the speech with Vili just prior to his death in Sydney later in March.