Family demands answers over NDIS starvation death of Jade Roberts
The family of an NDIS participant – on a $500,000 a year plan – say they want answers as to how their loved one died from starvation.
EXCLUSIVE: A family of a woman on a $500,000 a year NDIS plan who died of starvation, has asked the watchdog to investigate her death.
Jade Roberts, 40, died in July, with the cause of death listed on her certificate as starvation ketoacidosis, followed by intestinal failure and cerebral palsy.
Police confirmed they are conducting an investigation on behalf of the coroner.
Her sister Tanya Burke said Ms Roberts, who was unable to do anything for herself other than tap out messages on an iPad with her nose, was admitted to Cairns Hospital on July 7 and died the next day.
Ms Burke, 54, said they only found out how ill she was the night before she died. Both herself and her mother were on separate trips hours away from Cairns and couldn’t get to the hospital.
“We FaceTimed her on her deathbed,” Ms Burke said.
“I would not wish that on my worst enemy.”
Ms Burke said her sister suffered constant pain, mental health episodes and went through periods of refusing to eat.
She had looked into voluntary assisted dying, but did not qualify.
She said her family and carers had always helped her through her dark periods in the past.
Jo O’Hara, Ms Roberts’ mother, wrote to the coroner saying her daughter was at times not of sound mind to make decisions which was why she was the Power of Attorney for her daughter’s medical needs.
She claimed she was not adequately consulted by her new provider Blue Apple Support Services, who took over Ms Robert’s care seven months before her death.
“This is in stark contrast to her previous provider who kept me regularly informed and had implemented a plan to send Jade to hospital if she went more than three days without eating,” Ms O’Hara said.
She wrote she was distressed to learn there was evidence her daughter may have gone months without proper nourishment.
Ms Roberts’ former carer Mae Notts said Ms Roberts had problems “but was living her best life”, was “cheeky and fun” and loved shopping, make-up and the pub and enjoyed music festivals and planning holidays.
Ms Burke said after Ms Roberts moved to her new provider she began to distance herself from family and changed her GP.
Blue Apple Support Services said in an email to the family that they did everything they could to get Ms Roberts’ to eat, including taking her to the food markets to try and “trigger her senses”.
In a statement Blue Apple Support Services said Ms Roberts “exercised her right under the NDIS to choice and control”.
“All relevant authorities including the NDIS Commission, her support co-ordinator, and her health providers were fully informed of the situation with Jade,” the provider said.
The spokeswoman would not be drawn as to why the family was not told that Ms Roberts was ill until the night before she died, but said matters relating to Power of Attorney are private, and that it would not be appropriate to comment.
“What we can say is that Jade was recognised as her own decision maker during her time with us, and we always respected her rights, wishes and instructions,” the provider said.
The provider said it “fulfilled all of its obligations” and was continuing to co-operate fully with the ongoing coronial inquiry.
The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission said it was making further inquiries to understand the circumstances of her death.
