A Perth man whose son died after a medical mishap at Fiona Stanley Hospital has said he should have been consulted during a WA Government-commissioned review of the hospital’s clinical services.
The review was announced in April after a string of problems with patient care at the hospital came to light, and the findings were unveiled yesterday.
Jared Olsen, 41, was administered the wrong medication for his inflammatory bowel disease at Fiona Stanley Hospital in February and died less than a month later.
His father, Phillip Olsen, said he was only made aware of the review when he saw Acting Health Minister John Day speaking about it on television earlier this month and contacted his office.
“I heard nothing back until [Tuesday] just to let me know the review is over and it’s all done and dusted and he attached a copy of the report,” he said.
Mr Day wrote to Mr Olsen explaining the reviewers did not seek to interview him because Jared’s death was before the coroner.
“I don’t know what that’s got to do with it, I think it’s a pretty lame excuse,” Mr Olsen said.
“It sounds to me like they were just trying to avoid any more adverse publicity that they might have got had they decided to have a look into the issues surrounding my son’s death.
“I was available, they know where I am but they chose not to.”
‘Multitude of hospital errors’ led to son’s death: father
Last month, Mr Olsen told a parliamentary inquiry looking into the hospital’s operations that his son might still be alive if not for a multitude of errors by hospital staff caring for him.
“If there is some lawful reason that says ‘hands off because the coroner is looking into this’, then how come the parliamentary inquiry was able to go ahead?” he said.
“It just doesn’t gel. What concerned me is reviewing parties didn’t even investigate or mention or have a look at the issues with my son, even though the review talks about looking into clinical issues and interviewing patients and their carers.
“That is somewhat surprising and disappointing, given that Jared’s demise at the hospital is probably one of most significant issues that they had to deal with.”
Opposition health spokesman Roger Cook said he was surprised and disturbed to hear Mr Olsen was not consulted.
“Surely that alone should give everyone a concern that this report hasn’t got to the bottom of the matter,” he said.
“Mr Olsen was someone that was personally impacted by the chaos and dysfunction at that hospital.
“I’m concerned and really quite disturbed that they haven’t seen it fit to speak with Mr Olsen, who amongst all the people in Western Australia should have been consulted by the report’s authors.”
Acting Health director general Bryant Stokes said it was not necessary for Mr Olsen to make a submission to the review.
“The review team knew of his issues and they have been well reported to the hospital and to the minister, and naturally because it is a case before the coroner, they were not prepared to interview him, and that’s understandable,” he said.
The review does not make mention of Jared Olsen by name or refer to his death.
Professor Stokes denied Mr Olsen’s lack of input made the review incomplete.
Mr Day has been contacted for comment.