Dr Thomas Mohler: colleagues pay tribute to Hobart anaesthetist following shock death

A beloved Tassie anaesthetist has been remembered by his shocked patients and his workmates after his sudden death, as he’s celebrated for his exceptional care.

The respected Hobart anaesthetist who died suddenly on the weekend has been remembered as an “all-round really nice guy” who was “exceptional” at his job.

The late Dr Thomas Mohler – known by those close to him as Tom – passed away at the Royal Hobart Hospital on Saturday as a result of an acute medical condition, aged just 57.

His sudden loss is being felt keenly in the local medical community, which has been left in a state of shock.

Late Hobart anaesthetist Thomas Mohler.

Scores of his patients left messages on social media upon hearing the tragic news.

“I remember Tom being so amazing with my daughter (and so reassuring to me) when she had to go under,” Nina Sennett said.

Dr Mohler was Jessica Lamb’s anaesthetist when she had her son by caesarean. “It was very touch and go and he was absolutely amazing,” she said.

“Very sad news,” Amina Verrall said. “A big loss to the community. He was such a wonderful and compassionate doctor. He was always amazing with our boy. Deepest condolences to his family and work colleagues.”

Mon McClure said: “We had Tom when our son was born via caesarean; he was absolutely exceptional, calm, gentle and kept us well informed the entire time. We really appreciated him being there with us at such an important time.”

Dr Mohler is survived by his wife Paula and two adult daughters, Georgia and Sophie.

Formerly an associate at the Hobart Anaesthetic Group on Macquarie St, Dr Mohler had most recently been working in the public health system.

He started his medical career as a general practitioner, working in Darwin and South Australia, before training as an anaesthetist in the late 1990s.

Dr Andrew Ottaway, an anaesthetist colleague of Dr Mohler’s, said his late friend was “very thoughtful, conscientious and diligent”.

“He’ll be a big loss, that’s for sure,” Dr Ottaway said.

“He was very well-liked as a person and as a colleague.

Late Hobart anaesthetist Dr Thomas Mohler. Picture: Facebook

“He was widely regarded as an exceptional anaesthetist. That came from his thoughtfulness and his diligence and his conscientiousness and his patient care.

“He was just an all-round really nice guy.”

Dr Ottaway and Dr Mohler spent time teaching together in Laos in the mid-to-late 2000s – an opportunity Dr Ottaway said he was grateful for.

“Because he was such a good anaesthetist and he’s such a conscientious anaesthetist, he can come across as quite serious but it was nice to get to know another side to him in Laos where he was relaxed and had a laugh,” he said.

Another colleague of Dr Mohler’s, Dr Simon Morphett, described him as an “extremely highly valued friend and colleague”.

“From an intellectual and clinical practice point of view, he was a leader in the anaesthetic community and somebody whose advice was very frequently sought – certainly by me and other people, as well,” Dr Morphett said.

Dr Andrew Ottaway at Hobart. Picture: Chris Kidd

“He was a very high-achieving professional in many ways and extremely good and extremely knowledgeable at his job.

“He was still offering a lot.”

People flocked to social media on Wednesday to pay tribute to Dr Mohler.

“I remember Tom being so amazing with my daughter (and so reassuring to me) when she had to go under,” Nina Sennett wrote on the Mercury’s Facebook page.

Jessica Lamb remembered Dr Mohler as her anaesthetist when she gave birth to her son via caesarean.

“It was very touch and go and he was absolutely amazing,” she wrote. “May he rest in peace.”

Follow @rg_inglis