A Flinders Medical Centre patient was allegedly given a fatal overdose of pain-killing medication by hospital staff and was not adequately monitored, a coronial inquest has heard. Stephen Robert Atkins, 53, died suddenly in the hospital in March 2015 just three days after being admitted to undergo tests for chronic neck pain. The court heard he was given the strong painkilling opioid medications fentanyl and oxycodone during his admission, which required close clinical monitoring but there were no assessment notes from the last few hours before his death. Counsel assisting the court, Kathryn Waite, told the inquest experts had formed the opinion that Mr Atkins’ suffered a fatal overdose of the medication.
February 14, 2018
The Health Services Union and Melbourne Pathology are running a s.739 (Application to deal with a dispute) in front of Fair Work Commissioner Cribb in Conference Room E and Conference Room H – Level 6 in Melbourne.
February 14, 2018
St Bartholomew’s House Inc is facing a s.394 (Application for unfair dismissal remedy) before Fair Work Deputy President Binet in Conference Room 12.34 in Perth (Majumder).
February 14, 2018
A manslaughter charge against a teenage driver who caused the death of an Adelaide nurse in a hit-and-run crash last year needs to be considered further, the Adelaide Magistrates Court has heard. Anglicare SA employee Lucy Paveley was killed last year in August while driving to work. Her car was hit at high speed by an allegedly stolen four-wheel drive which the prosecution says had a group of youths in it and in another vehicle which was following. The four-wheel drive’s driver, 18-year-old Lyle Leonard Morrison, has already pleaded guilty to causing Ms Paveley’s death by dangerous driving. He was also charged with manslaughter over the crash and was due to enter a plea to that charge. He had denied the charge at previous hearings.
February 13, 2018
Mercy Services is slated to face a s.394 (Application for unfair dismissal remedy) before Fair Work Commissioner Saunders at Level 3, 237 Wharf road, Newcastle at 2.30pm (McKenzie).
February 13, 2018
Estia Health has a s.394 (Application for unfair dismissal remedy) which it must defend before Fair Work Commissioner Saunders at Level 3, 237 Wharf Road, Newcastle at 12.30pm (Burgess).
February 13, 2018
Far West HACC Services Inc will defend a s.394 (Application for unfair dismissal remedy) before Senior Deputy President Hamberger in the Broken Hill Council Chambers 240 Blende Street Broken Hill New South Wales at 10am (Perry).
February 13, 2018
A Melbourne surgeon allegedly killed in a one-punch attack fell to the ground so hard the back of his head cracked the tiled floor of the Box Hill Hospital in Melbourne’s east, a court has heard. Joseph Esmaili, 22, is facing numerous charges including manslaughter for allegedly delivering the punch that killed 41-year-old Patrick Pritzwald-Stegmann in May last year. His committal hearing at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court was told the pair had been having an argument over Mr Esmaili and his friends smoking in a designated non-smoking area outside the hospital’s foyer. Prosecutor Mark Gibson SC said Mr Pritzwald-Stegmann had gone to reception to ask them to call security to move the group away from the hospital entrance when Mr Esmaili came back inside. “[Mr Pritzwald-Stegmann] requested the accused man to leave the hospital … [he] was heard by witnesses to say to the accused ‘did you just spit in my face?'” he told the court. Mr Gibson said witnesses told police they had heard Mr Esmaili say “I need you to suck my dick” as he became “more annoyed and angry”. Mr Pritzwald-Stegmann put down the satchel he was carrying before Mr Esmaili punched him in the face, the court heard. Mr Gibson said the punch rendered the surgeon unconscious and caused him to fall backwards without attempting to brace the fall. The court heard Mr Esmaili fled from the scene as onlookers and medical staff rushed to Mr Pritzwald-Stegmann’s aid. Mr Esmaili chose not to watch CCTV of the incident which was played in court. Defence barrister John Desmond told the hearing that his client may claim he was acting in self defence. Mr Desmond also indicated he would argue the surgeon’s death was not caused by Mr Esmaili’s punch.
