Coronial inquest to examine the death of an Ambulance Tasmania intensive care paramedic

A coronial inquest will investigate what Ambulance Tasmania knew about the misuse and theft of prescription medication leading up to the death of a paramedic.

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A CORONIAL inquest will probe what Ambulance Tasmania knew about the misuse and theft of prescription medication from the agency’s drug stores by employees leading up to the death of an intensive care paramedic in December 2016.

Coroner Olivia McTaggart this week ruled that a public inquest would be held following a “lengthy and thorough” investigation into the death of Damian Michael Crump.

Ms McTaggart said the evidence in the investigation “strongly indicates” that Mr Crump took his own life after he stole drugs from an AT drug store in Hobart.

In her reasons outlining the draft scope of the inquest, Ms McTaggart said several factors had been considered relating to Mr Crump’s death, including:

HIS known mental health conditions and prescription drug abuse;

THE adequacy of his management, supervision and welfare requirements by Ambulance Tasmania;

HIS ability to access drugs and the drug store without authorisation.

Ms McTaggart said following several case management conferences, counsel assisting had proposed that the inquest should examine:

THE circumstances of the unauthorised taking of morphine and other drugs from southern Tasmanian ambulance stations in about September 2016;

ANY misuse of drugs by Mr Crump, and other employees of Ambulance Tasmania, and the response by Ambulance Tasmania to such use;

THE investigation by Ambulance Tasmania into the suspected misuse or theft by two other employees of drugs held by Ambulance Tasmania prior to Mr Crump’s death;

MENTAL health and welfare systems or policies to support Mr Crump and other Ambulance Tasmania employees in 2016.

Ms McTaggart said there was evidence from witnesses about matters including that Mr Crump suffered serious mental health issues known to Ambulance Tasmania employees and management, including expressing suicidal plans.

It also included that Mr Crump misused prescription medication before his death, and AT medication was reported missing in September 2016, with Mr Crump suspected as being one of those responsible.

Other matters include that medication was stolen from AT stores by two separate AT employees in 2012 and 2014 in similar circumstances to Mr Crump.

“It may well be significant, causal or contributing circumstances leading to Mr Crump’s death involve a failure of AT to appropriately manage him and, if necessary, discipline him or terminate his employment,” Ms McTaggart wrote.

“Appropriate management may well have resulted in a different outcome.

“Similarly, inadequate responses by AT to the two earlier known cases of stealing medication from AT stores may have allowed Mr Crump to more easily access medication, including the fatal quantity of medication stolen before his death.

“Further, adequate welfare assistance and support by AT for his drug abuse and mental health issues may have changed the outcome.”

The state government was contacted for comment.

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