The coronal inquest into the death of 28-year-old Noongar man Jeffrey Winmar resumed for its seventh day of session this morning.
Today we heard medical evidence from the doctors involved in Jeffrey’s care and two expert medical panels.
Prior to calling the first Witness, Mr Nathwani, Counsel acting on behalf of Jeffrey’s family addresses the Coroner, “some of the family may not be present today due to the nature of the evidence.”
Today’s summary includes details from the autopsy findings after Jeffrey’s passing. This information is distressing and we encourage people to take care while reading this summary.
The first witness called to give evidence is Dr Sayed Hassen. Dr Hassen is a surgeon, specialising in issues concerning the liver. He performed two surgeries on Jeffrey after he was taken to Box Hill Hospital via ambulance on 9 November.
While Dr Hassen did not have direct contact with Jeffrey following his immediate presentation to Box Hill Hospital, according to Dr Hasseen, Jeffrey was “critically unwell with a poor prognosis” upon his arrival at Box Hill Hospital.
Dr Hasseen is questioned about the handover Box Hill Hospital received from Ambulance Victoria and Victoria Police.
Ms Wong: It appears that the treating team had not been told that Jeffrey had jumped from a height of 3 meters?
Dr Hasseen: No, I don’t recall reading that initially, but we did know there was a pursuit of some kind.
When asked if this information would have earlier drawn the hospital’s attention to the possibility of internal injuries, Dr Haseen gives evidence that he does not believe that it would have materially changed Jeffrey’s treatment plan.
We learn that Jeffrey was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit at around 9:00pm, at which point Jeffrey was intubated and not breathing on his own. When asked about his condition at this point in time, Dr Hasseen expresses: “[Jeffrey] was more unwell than most patients in intensive care..his state was critical in more ways than one. “
After Jeffrey was transferred to the ICU a fast scan was done by an ICU consultant who noted free fluid around Jeffrey’s internal organs, which they believed to be blood.
We learn that two to three litres of blood were found in Jeffrey’s abdomen during the first surgery conducted by Dr Hassen.
Counsel Assisting puts it to Dr Hasseen that one of the concerns of Jeffrey’s family is that he was in hospital for a period of hours and that the internal bleeding that Jeffery experienced was missed by medical staff.
When asked to respond to this concern, Dr Hasseen states there were many things contributing to Jeffrey’s medical condition at this point in time, including multiple cardiac arrests.
When asked if the injury that Jeffrey sustained to his liver likely contributed to the cardiac arrest that Jeffrey experienced, Dr Hasseen gives evidence that it is unlikely, going on to express “he wasn’t behaving like someone who had a significant internal bleed at that time”.
Dr Hasseen goes on to give evidence that the pattern of injuries – including the injuries to his livers and ribs – were compatible with injuries that may have been sustained from CPR.
It is later put to Dr Hasseen by Mr Nathwani, Counsel acting on behalf of Jeffrey’s father, that Jeffrey complained of sore ribs in the initial moments after he first lost consciousness under the tree.
Mr Nathwani: Would it be relevant for medical practitioners to have known that he complained of sore ribs before CPR?
Dr Hasseen: Yes it would be, it suggests something else happened at this point.
Mr Nathwani: Indicative of an issue isn’t it?
Mr Nathwani: Would it be relevant for medical practitioners to have known that Jeffrey complained of sore ribs before CPR?
Dr Hasseen: Yes it would be, it suggests something else happened at this point.
Mr Nathwani: Were you aware that either you or one of your colleagues specifically asked the family whether Jeffrey had been in a fight?
Ms Wong: Jeffrey’s mother Ursulla, has a distinct recollection that you spoke to her after the first laparotomy, and that you asked her whether Jeffrey had been in a fight. Is it your evidence that you don’t remember saying that?
Dr Hasseen: It was about two and a half years ago. Look, it’s possible that I have spoken to her, but I can’t recall whether there was something that prompted me to ask the question. The pattern of bruising might have prompted me to ask a question as to why there was bruising… I don’t recall that …