Coroner finds death of Ricky “Dougie” Hampson Junior “preventable”

The father of a man who died after he was misdiagnosed in a regional hospital has welcomed a coroner’s findings, including a recommendation that a senior doctor be referred to a complaints commission. Here’s what we know.

Father Ricky Hampson, and his mother Lydia Chatfield during a press conference after the Lidcombe coroners court handed down its findings on Tuesday. First Nations man Ricky Hampson, 36, died from perforated ulcers less than 24 hours after being discharged from Dubbo Base Hospital in August 2021. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

The family of an indigenous man who died after being misdiagnosed and discharged from a country hospital has expressed his mixed response when he learned his son’s death was “preventable”.

A coroner has recommended an emergency department doctor be investigated and a local health service establish protocols to deal with indigenous patients after finding Ricky “Dougie” Hampson’s death after being discharged from hospital was preventable.

Deputy State Coroner Magistrate Erin Kennedy said Aboriginal man Ricky “Dougie” Hampson Junior died on August 16, 2021, from two perforated ulcers less than 24 hours after he was discharged from Dubbo Base Hospital after being incorrectly diagnosed with cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome [CHS]– a condition relating to long-term marijuana use.

Mr Hampson’s family have welcomed the findings delivered in Lidcombe earlier this week, although reality set back in when they understood the death was preventable.

Mr Hampson told this publication the coroner confirmed “everything we already knew”.

Ricky "Dougie" Hampson Junior. Photo: Supplied.

Ms Kennedy recommended Dr Sokol Nushaj be referred to the Health Care Complaints Commission for “investigation and review as to whether he engaged in unsatisfactory professional conduct under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law in relation to his treatment of Ricky Douglas”.

She also recommended the Western NSW Local Health District establish a First Nations consultation and advisory group in liaison with the local Aboriginal community, such as Dubbo Regional Aboriginal Health Service and training programs to either be revised or additional modules added.

Mr Hamspon welcomed the coroner’s recommendations. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

She added that NSW Health should amend policies to ensure doctors and nurses know whether patients are Aboriginal.

Documents of the findings revealed medical staff were unaware of Mr Hampson’s Aboriginality, so she does not believe racial bias was involved.

In a two-week inquest at Dubbo Courthouse earlier this year, court heard Mr Hampson presented himself to Dubbo’s emergency department on August 14, before describing a “popping” sensation to hospital staff.

He was discharged after 18 hours without any scans, the inquest heard.

The coroner’s statement read Dr Nushaj had accepted he had a “cognitive bias” created by his first impression of Mr Hampson and sedated him to mask his pain.

“He agreed that he did not order imaging to exclude more serious diagnoses, and that if he had not formed the diagnosis of CHS that he would have,” the statement read.

Mr Hampson said it has taken his family more than three years to get justice for their son.

“We’ve got to make sure these recommendations are implemented, and we want a good result from the HCCC,” he said.