‘No mother should have to hear her daughter’s final words in a book’: psychiatrist book probe continues

As an investigation continues into the published work of a former Queensland health psychiatrist, a Queensland Opposition MP says no mum ‘should have to hear her daughter’s final words published in a book’.

Sonia Anderson. Picture: Glenn Hunt/The Australian

OPPOSITION health spokeswoman Ros Bates says “no mother should have to hear her daughter’s final words published in a book” as an investigation continues into the published work of a former Queensland Health forensic psychiatrist.

Ms Bates has labelled Dr Donald Grant’s book, Killer Instinct, a “major breach of patient confidentiality” and says she will be watching the investigation into its contents closely.

The psychiatrist launched Killer Instinct last year, drawing on reports he had written after interviewing murderers for court proceedings.

The confidential reports on Queensland killers have since had to be redone by different doctors, The Courier-Mail revealed this week.

The book also greatly distressed the mother of one of the murder victims, who only learnt of her daughter’s last words by reading them in Killer Instinct.

Sonia Anderson holding an image of her daughter Bianca Girven, who was murdered by her partner 9 years ago. Photo: Glenn Hunt / The Australian

Dr Grant’s use of confidential reports has been under investigation by the Office of the Health Ombudsman and the Crime and Corruption Commission for a year and a hearing of the Mental Health Court recently confirmed the documents were not for public consumption.

The release of Killer Instinct greatly distressed Sonia Anderson, whose 22-year-old daughter Bianca Faith Girven was murdered in 2010 by her abusive partner.

Dr Grant used his interviews with killer Rhys Austin, who was found to be of unsound mind when he strangled Ms Girven to death, to write a chapter of his book.

The chapter included information Bianca’s mother Sonia Anderson had never been told, including what Austin claimed were his victim’s last words.

A distraught Mrs Anderson confronted Dr Grant at the launch.

“This was a major breach of patient confidentiality and a slap in the face to the families of victims - like Sonia Anderson,” Ms Bates said.

“I feel so sorry for Sonia and other people who have had to relive the trauma and grief from the loss of their loved one because of this major patient privacy breach.

“We will make sure this issue is dealt with appropriately after the CCC finalises their review and Queensland Health responds with guidelines for employees.

“This should never ever happen again.”

LNP Shadow Health Minister Ros Bates.

After being told the documents were “public”, Mrs Anderson applied to access them through the Mental Health Court. Justice Jean Dalton sympathised with her, saying it would have been “hurtful” to discover details of her daughter’s murder in a book, but she refused access to the reports.

“The law is – and it is not judge-made law, it is in the Act – that the reports are not for the public,” she said.

Mrs Anderson said if no action was taken, there were real concerns that “any person interviewed by a psychiatrist (would) feel secure their discussion won’t be made public”.

“I believe a CCC investigation is needed to fully understand how this book came about, with more than just Donald Grant surely knowing how wrong it was,” Mrs Anderson said. “This fight has been a difficult and lonely one.”

A Queensland Health spokesman confirmed the matter was referred to the CCC and the Office of the Health Ombudsman in June last year after concerns were raised over the contents of the book.

“We are yet to receive advice on the outcomes of these investigations. This is a complex, highly sensitive legal and mental health issue and we understand it will take time to investigate thoroughly.”

Dr Grant’s publisher, Melbourne University Publishing, did not respond to questions but a statement previously released by the author promised to donate a portion of his royalties towards helping victims’ families.

“Families of victims deserve insight into why their loved ones were killed,” he said in the statement.