Royal commission ‘appalled’ by disabled woman Ann Marie Smith’s death

The sickening death of Ann Marie Smith has prompted an extraordinary condemnation from the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability.

Flowers left at the Adelaide home Ann Marie Smith after her death in April. Picture: Gabriel Polychronis

The sickening death of Adelaide woman Ann Marie Smith has prompted an extraordinary condemnation from the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability, with its members saying they were “appalled”.

With SA Police considering manslaughter charges against her case worker — and both the SA Coroner and SA Premier announcing their own inquiries — the royal commission took the rare step of issuing a statement on the “deeply distressing” nature of the 54-year-old’s death, despite the other inquiries being underway.

The commission also flagged the prospect that it may make its own investigations into the circumstances surrounding Ms Smith’s death once the others have concluded.

For the last year of her life, Ms Smith sat immobile in a wicker chair in her Adelaide home, her only point of contact with the outside world a female support worker who was meant to tend to her for six hours a day.

Ann Marie Smith. Picture: SA Police

Ms Smith developed septic shock, multiple organ failure from severe pressure sores and malnutrition, and by the time her support worker finally called an ambulance, Ms Smith was semiconscious. She died at the Royal Adelaide Hospital on April 6.

The case raises serious questions about the lack of co-ordination between state and federal authorities under the NDIS and also the SA Liberal government’s decision not to extend the community visitor scheme to privately-run disability care providers, as happens in other states, to monitor the care provided by case workers.

In a strong statement, royal commission chairman Ronald Sackville QC said he and his fellow commissioners “had been appalled by the circumstances surrounding the death of Ms Smith”.

“This deeply distressing case brings to the fore important policy questions that are already under consideration by the royal commission.

“The circumstances of Ms Smith’s death are the subject of multiple investigations, including a major crime investigation by the South Australian Police. It is inappropriate for the royal commission to initiate an immediate inquiry into events where that might prejudice an ongoing criminal investigation or a possible future prosecution.

“For that reason, the royal commission will not at this time commence an inquiry into the specific circumstances surrounding Ms Smith’s death. It is, however, open to the royal commission to undertake such an inquiry at a later stage and it will follow the progress of the other investigations.”

Mr Sackville said many aspects concerning the treatment and death of Ms Smith fall under the royal commission’s terms of reference, and will be part of its ongoing inquiry.

“People with disability have the right to live independently in the community and in the safety of their home,” he said.