Inquest into deaths from RHD to uncover why RHD prevalent in Indigenous communities

An inquest into the deaths of three women from a remote Gulf town aims to pinpoint why rheumatic heart disease is so prevalent among Indigenous people – and the Human Rights Commission is involved.

THE Queensland Human Rights Commission has been granted leave to appear for the first time ever at an inquest.

Coroner Nerida Wilson granted leave for the commission to appear on the basis of human rights into the forthcoming inquest into the deaths of Yvette “Betty” Booth, 18, Adele “Sandy” Diamond, 37, and Shakaya George, 17, of Doomadgee.

The women died of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) or its consequences.

The first day of the inquest will be held in Doomadgee on July 18.

At a pre-inquest hearing in Cairns on Monday, Ms Wilson said adequacy of care, in particular six months before their deaths, was an issue.

Doomadgee Hospital, where the women were initially treated.

“Further, whether there was a delay in transferring Kaya to Queensland Children’s Hospital for intervention, and if so, why,” she said.

“The adequacy of screening for RHD and the public health, education and follow up provided in the Doomadgee community, so this inquest will examine the health care and treatment of Sandy, Yvette and Kaya, as their family’s wish for them to be referred.

“This cluster of deaths have a number of strikingly similar features.”

She said the women were all from Doomadgee, the location of their care and primary treatment.

“RHD is 100 per cent preventable and almost exclusively a disease of poverty and social disadvantage,” Ms Wilson said.

“A disproportionate number of First Nations people acquire and die from RHD when compared to the non-Indigenous population – the reasons for this statistically skewed outcome may become obvious when examining the specific circumstances of the deaths of Sandy, Yvette and Kaya.”

Queensland Health Minister Yvette D’Ath at the launch of a $7.38m strategy to tackle rheumatic heart disease. Picture: Peter Carruthers

In April, Queensland Health Minister Yvette D’Ath conceded the state had failed remote Indigenous children suffering from rheumatic heart disease.

Launching a $7.38m investment to end the disease on Wednesday, Ms D’Ath said “the system failed” in the deaths of the three women.

“We failed these kids, the system, the whole system,” Ms D’Ath said.

Statewide, $4.5m will be spent during a three-year period and 10 northern Queensland communities most severely affected will receive $2.88m for “specific actions”.

University of Queensland Professor and Yidinji elder Henrietta Marrie has called for an investigation into “institutional racism” within the Queensland Health system, including the Cairns Hospital.

Ms Marrie said a further inquiry should be conducted into what she claimed were instances of statewide negligence towards Aboriginal people.

Originally published as Inquest into deaths from RHD to uncover why RHD prevalent in Indigenous communities