FELIPE ALVAREZ: FAMILY CALLS FOR ACCOUNTABILITY, TRANSPARENCY AND CORONIAL REFORM AFTER ACT CORONER’S FINDINGS

By Gabriela Alvarez-Sledge

Sister of the late Felipe Esteban Alvarez

Disclaimer: Readers please be advised this article mentions someone who has passed away.

“Felipe’s life mattered. His death mattered. What we learn from his death matters.”

The family of the late

Felipe Esteban Alvarez

is calling for greater transparency, accountability and reform of the ACT coronial system following the release of the findings into his death.

Felipe died in March 2021 following an overdose at his Canberra residence.

Five years later, his family is still grieving while asking an important question:

What can be changed so that another family does not have to go through what ours has experienced?

Felipe was not simply a coronial file.

He was a brother, son, uncle and deeply loved member of his family.

His life had value.

His family believes his death deserved to be investigated as thoroughly, transparently and independently as possible.

WHAT THE CORONER FOUND

The findings of ACT Coroner Ken Archer identified serious concerns surrounding the circumstances of Felipe’s death.

The Coroner found that Felipe was experiencing a medical emergency and that emergency medical assistance was not sought for a significant period of time.

The Coroner found that the delay deprived Felipe of any chance of survival he may have had following his initial collapse.

The Coroner described the conduct of those present as

“morally blameworthy”

and found that their conduct demonstrated a serious indifference to the possibility of loss of life.

The findings also identified broader public-safety concerns relating to the Canberra Alliance for Harm Minimisation and Advocacy (CAHMA), including concerns about governance, recruitment and screening, overdose-response training, naloxone availability and organisational accountability.

The Coroner found that appropriate screening and eligibility processes should have been applied to the relevant peer workers.

The findings also raised concerns about the organisation’s response following Felipe’s death and the need for stronger governance and accountability.

The Coroner recommended improvements to overdose-response training and stronger collaboration between harm-minimisation services, health agencies, ambulance services and police.

The family welcomes those recommendations.

THE FAMILY’S CONCERNS REMAIN

Throughout the coronial process, Felipe’s family provided information, documents and concerns about matters they believed were important to understanding what happened.

The family identified people who were present when Felipe suffered his overdose and sought to have the relevant evidence properly considered.

The family also provided written material that it believed was relevant to understanding what occurred.

However, the family remained concerned that not every matter it believed was important was fully tested or explored during the coronial process.

Because the Court has imposed restrictions concerning the publication of identities,

the family will not identify any person whose identity is subject to suppression

.

The family respects the Court’s orders.