Inquest into death of Petar Josipovic who died after cardiac surgery cancelled twice despite being ‘category 1 priority’

The son of a man who died while waiting for cardiac surgery told a doctor he wouldn’t survive until the next date after they were continually cancelled, despite being priority one.

Grandfather Petar Josipovic died after presenting to the RAH emergency department after he had multiple surgeries cancelled, an inquest has heard. Picture: AAP Image/David Mariuz

A grandfather who died while waiting for cardiac surgery would have likely survived if his surgery dates weren’t continually cancelled, an inquest has heard.

Despite Petar Josipovic being a category one priority and his son informing a doctor he wouldn’t survive until the next surgery date it was pushed back again.

Opening the inquest on Wednesday, counsel assisting, Emma Roper told the court Mr Josipovic, 62, was experiencing shortness of breath in early 2023.

He was diagnosed with moderate to severe aortic regurgitation and moderate ischaemic heart disease.

The court heard Mr Josipovic was placed on the waiting list for cardiac surgery on June 21, 2023.

He was assessed and determined to be a category one surgical priority, meaning the procedure should be performed within 30 days.

Mr Josipovic’s surgery was initially scheduled for August 14, 2023 which was cancelled twice and eventually rescheduled for August 25, 2023.

On the evening of August 24, 2023, Mr Josipovic presented to the to the Royal Adelaide Hospital Emergency Department, where he suffered cardiac arrest.

Mr Josipovic suffered a cardiac arrest at the Royal Adelaide Hospital in August 2023. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Naomi Jellicoe

He required resuscitation and was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit.

Mr Josipovic spent nearly three weeks in the ICU, undergoing numerous surgical procedures,

including a mechanical aortic valve replacement and a coronary artery bypass graft.

The court heard the surgeries led to fatal complications and Mr Josipovic died early on September 14, 2023.

The cause of Mr Josipovic’s death was determined to be multi organ failure.

Ms Roper told the court cardiothoracic surgeon Professor Julian Smith was expected to give evidence that Mr Josipovic should have received his surgery within 30 days and if he had it was probable his death would have been prevented.

She said the inquest would explore why Mr Josipovic’s surgery wasn’t scheduled within the 30 days and whether it was due to inadequate resourcing or failure to appreciate his medical condition, as well as why his scheduled surgeries were cancelled.

Giving evidence on Wednesday, one of Mr Josipovic’s sons, Nick Josipovic told the court the continual cancellations and no updates about the surgery increased his father’s stress and anxiety.

Peter Josipovic's son, Nick Josipovic gave evidence in the inquest on Wednesday. Photo: Lucy Rutherford

“He understood this procedure to be life saving for him, he understood that the failure to operate on him in a designated period of time would be life threatening,” he said.

Mr Josipovic told the court his father received a call from a doctor at the Royal Adelaide Hospital on August 19 advising him his surgery scheduled for August 22 would be cancelled.

He told the doctor of his father’s distress and deteriorating state – including weight loss and lack of energy – and his “dire need” for the surgery.

“I (told the doctor) do not think that dad will survive until the next surgery date,” he said.

The inquest continues.

Originally published as Inquest into death of Petar Josipovic who died after cardiac surgery cancelled twice despite being ‘category 1 priority’