RDH questioned over 70-year-old man’s death in 2017

ROYAL Darwin Hospital officials have been accused of going on the defensive during probes into patient deaths instead of working to ensure tragedies aren’t repeated

Questions have been raised over the death

ROYAL Darwin Hospital officials have been accused of going on the defensive during probes into patient deaths instead of working to ensure tragedies aren’t repeated.

A coronial inquest into the death of 70-year-old Ali Djawas heard Royal Darwin Hospital medicos had quibbled with the findings of expert reports prepared by top interstate doctors for the coroner, despite the hospital not undertaking similar reviews itself.

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Mr Djawas died in 2017 after having large parts of his colon removed in an operation he probably didn’t need to have.

The family’s barrister, Peter Bellach, said Mr Djawas likely wouldn’t have agreed to the operation if the risk of death had been fully explained to him.

Mr Djawas spoke little English and Mr Bellach said doctors effectively made the decision for him that he undergo the riskiest treatment option.

He said there were ongoing concerns about patients being given “informed consent” about medical procedures, and said Mr Djawas died just days after coronial findings were handed down in the case of another patient who underwent risky bowel surgery without being told of the risks.

Counsel assisting the coroner Kelvin Currie said there concerns about the hospital’s “objective self analysis”.

He said there were concerns the part of the hospital which is charged with monitoring quality and safety was “more a defensive mechanism” which kicked in when things went wrong.

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