‘Troubling’: Coroner slams lack of intervention after elderly Tas woman died from neglect

An elderly Tasmanian woman died weighing just 24.5kg and with sepsis from a huge bedsore, in a disturbing case of carer’s neglect. A coroner has now slammed a lack of oversight in the care of our most vulnerable.

Northern Tasmanian woman Dorothy Atkins, 83, weighed just 24.5kg when she died in 2017.

A coroner has slammed the federal government for failing to intervene in the case of an elderly woman who died as the result of “carer’s neglect” – weighing just 24.5kg and with sepsis caused by a bedsore.

Dorothy Jean Atkins, 83, died in July 2017 at her home in the small rural community of Weegana, near Elizabeth Town.

In his newly-published findings, Coroner Robert Webster said Ms Atkins died from meningitis with sepsis, likely from a “large and deep” bedsore ulcer on her sacrum.

Ms Atkins lived with her son and primary carer, David Baldock, who cooked, cleaned and attended to the mortgage, and had received a Centrelink carer’s pension since 1996 or 1997.

Roseanne Devadas, a forensic pathologist who conducted a post-mortem examination, noted Ms Atkins had “global muscle wastage”, extremely long and curled-under toe and fingernails, and that she had a number of bedsore ulcers.

She gave the opinion there was evidence of “carer’s neglect”, particularly referring to Ms Atkins’ nutritional status, poor hygiene and ulcers, but said there were no signs of physical abuse.

Dr Devadas said in a hospital setting, Ms Atkins would have been turned regularly to avoid the pressure ulcers – but said in this case, the elderly woman’s main bedsore had reached 20cm in diameter and was “at the most advanced stage”.

Coronial medical advisor Tony Bell noted no prescriptions had been issued for Ms Atkins from any nearby pharmacies since 2016, despite her suffering a range of health conditions, and that she had not been taken to her GP for a year before her death.

In examining why Ms Atkins’ son was appointed her carer, the manager of Devonport Centrelink gave evidence during the inquest – saying she was unaware whether carers were given any instructions as to their basic obligations, or whether any checks were conducted on them.

The Centrelink team leader of the carers’ team was unable to say what criteria people needed to meet in order to be a carer, and was not aware if carers were given any guidance as to their obligations.

“Rather it was just assumed that a carer would know that they need to provide adequate nutrition, provide adequate access to medical care, and obtain proper medication and administer it,” Mr Webster said.

Mr Webster said Mr Baldock received a carer’s pension for 20 years, but was given no instruction or education in his obligations towards his mother or the supports available in their community that he could draw on.

He said Mr Baldock’s failure to observe his mother’s 20cm ulcer was “clear evidence of neglect”, and found a number of factors in the case “suggestive of elder abuse” in the form of carer’s neglect.

Mr Webster said the neglect by Mr Baldock, and his sister Wendy Smith – who would visit weekly and take her mother to doctor’s appointments – appeared “to have been reckless and the result of ignorance” as to what Ms Atkins’ care needs were.

He said the lack of action taken by the Commonwealth in this case was “troubling” – saying the government was using taxpayer’s money to pay for people who were failing in, or incapable of, providing proper care to the elderly.

Mr Webster noted he did not have the power to charge anyone with a crime or offence, and that no charges would be laid as a result of the inquest process.

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