❓ A parliamentary question regarding an investigation into operations performed by Dr. Jaffar Shehatha, focusing on the investigation's progress, the reviewer's qualifications, and the rationale for their selection. The Minister's response addresses the concerns raised.
AnsweredQoN 1150Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
DR JAFFAR SHEHATHA — CARDIOTHORACIC SURGERY INVESTIGATION
I refer to an investigation launched in February to review 18 operations performed by the cardiothoracic surgeon Dr Jaffar Shehatha at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. (1) Is this investigation now complete; and, if yes, has the minister received a copy of the final report? (2) If the inquiry is not complete, can the minister advise when it will be finalised and why it has taken so long? (3) Can the minister confirm that the inquiry is being carried out by the state’s most junior cardiothoracic surgeon from Fremantle Hospital, who is a former student of the director of the unit at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital? (4) Why did the minister allow such a junior surgeon to conduct the review, rather than it being conducted by a senior consultant from Royal Perth Hospital or interstate? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN
I refer to an investigation launched in February to review 18 operations performed by the cardiothoracic surgeon Dr Jaffar Shehatha at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. (1) Is this investigation now complete; and, if yes, has the minister received a copy of the final report? (2) If the inquiry is not complete, can the minister advise when it will be finalised and why it has taken so long? (3) Can the minister confirm that the inquiry is being carried out by the state’s most junior cardiothoracic surgeon from Fremantle Hospital, who is a former student of the director of the unit at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital? (4) Why did the minister allow such a junior surgeon to conduct the review, rather than it being conducted by a senior consultant from Royal Perth Hospital or interstate? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN
AnswerView source ↗
(1) The investigation is in its final stages. The Minister for Health has not received a copy of the report. (2) It is anticipated that the report will be finalised by 4 December 2009. The report has taken longer than expected to complete due to the ready availability of the reviewer and because the reviewer has taken due care in completion of the report. (3) The reviewer is not the most junior cardiothoracic surgeon in Western Australia. The reviewer was a non-training registrar in the cardiothoracic unit at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and trained at Royal Perth Hospital and other hospitals interstate. He is not a former student of the current director of the cardiothoracic unit at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. (4) Not applicable.
(1) Is this investigation now complete; and, if yes, has the minister received a copy of the final report? (2) If the inquiry is not complete, can the minister advise when it will be finalised and why it has taken so long? (3) Can the minister confirm that the inquiry is being carried out by the state’s most junior cardiothoracic surgeon from Fremantle Hospital, who is a former student of the director of the unit at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital? (4) Why did the minister allow such a junior surgeon to conduct the review, rather than it being conducted by a senior consultant from Royal Perth Hospital or interstate? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: (1) The investigation is in its final stages. The Minister for Health has not received a copy of the report. (2) It is anticipated that the report will be finalised by 4 December 2009. The report has taken longer than expected to complete due to the ready availability of the reviewer and because the reviewer has taken due care in completion of the report. (3) The reviewer is not the most junior cardiothoracic surgeon in Western Australia. The reviewer was a non-training registrar in the cardiothoracic unit at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and trained at Royal Perth Hospital and other hospitals interstate. He is not a former student of the current director of the cardiothoracic unit at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. (4) Not applicable.
(2) If the inquiry is not complete, can the minister advise when it will be finalised and why it has taken so long? (3) Can the minister confirm that the inquiry is being carried out by the state’s most junior cardiothoracic surgeon from Fremantle Hospital, who is a former student of the director of the unit at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital? (4) Why did the minister allow such a junior surgeon to conduct the review, rather than it being conducted by a senior consultant from Royal Perth Hospital or interstate? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: (1) The investigation is in its final stages. The Minister for Health has not received a copy of the report. (2) It is anticipated that the report will be finalised by 4 December 2009. The report has taken longer than expected to complete due to the ready availability of the reviewer and because the reviewer has taken due care in completion of the report. (3) The reviewer is not the most junior cardiothoracic surgeon in Western Australia. The reviewer was a non-training registrar in the cardiothoracic unit at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and trained at Royal Perth Hospital and other hospitals interstate. He is not a former student of the current director of the cardiothoracic unit at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. (4) Not applicable.
(3) Can the minister confirm that the inquiry is being carried out by the state’s most junior cardiothoracic surgeon from Fremantle Hospital, who is a former student of the director of the unit at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital? (4) Why did the minister allow such a junior surgeon to conduct the review, rather than it being conducted by a senior consultant from Royal Perth Hospital or interstate? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: (1) The investigation is in its final stages. The Minister for Health has not received a copy of the report. (2) It is anticipated that the report will be finalised by 4 December 2009. The report has taken longer than expected to complete due to the ready availability of the reviewer and because the reviewer has taken due care in completion of the report. (3) The reviewer is not the most junior cardiothoracic surgeon in Western Australia. The reviewer was a non-training registrar in the cardiothoracic unit at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and trained at Royal Perth Hospital and other hospitals interstate. He is not a former student of the current director of the cardiothoracic unit at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. (4) Not applicable.
(4) Why did the minister allow such a junior surgeon to conduct the review, rather than it being conducted by a senior consultant from Royal Perth Hospital or interstate? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: (1) The investigation is in its final stages. The Minister for Health has not received a copy of the report. (2) It is anticipated that the report will be finalised by 4 December 2009. The report has taken longer than expected to complete due to the ready availability of the reviewer and because the reviewer has taken due care in completion of the report. (3) The reviewer is not the most junior cardiothoracic surgeon in Western Australia. The reviewer was a non-training registrar in the cardiothoracic unit at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and trained at Royal Perth Hospital and other hospitals interstate. He is not a former student of the current director of the cardiothoracic unit at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. (4) Not applicable.
Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: (1) The investigation is in its final stages. The Minister for Health has not received a copy of the report. (2) It is anticipated that the report will be finalised by 4 December 2009. The report has taken longer than expected to complete due to the ready availability of the reviewer and because the reviewer has taken due care in completion of the report. (3) The reviewer is not the most junior cardiothoracic surgeon in Western Australia. The reviewer was a non-training registrar in the cardiothoracic unit at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and trained at Royal Perth Hospital and other hospitals interstate. He is not a former student of the current director of the cardiothoracic unit at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. (4) Not applicable.
(1) The investigation is in its final stages. The Minister for Health has not received a copy of the report. (2) It is anticipated that the report will be finalised by 4 December 2009. The report has taken longer than expected to complete due to the ready availability of the reviewer and because the reviewer has taken due care in completion of the report. (3) The reviewer is not the most junior cardiothoracic surgeon in Western Australia. The reviewer was a non-training registrar in the cardiothoracic unit at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and trained at Royal Perth Hospital and other hospitals interstate. He is not a former student of the current director of the cardiothoracic unit at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. (4) Not applicable.
(2) It is anticipated that the report will be finalised by 4 December 2009. The report has taken longer than expected to complete due to the ready availability of the reviewer and because the reviewer has taken due care in completion of the report. (3) The reviewer is not the most junior cardiothoracic surgeon in Western Australia. The reviewer was a non-training registrar in the cardiothoracic unit at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and trained at Royal Perth Hospital and other hospitals interstate. He is not a former student of the current director of the cardiothoracic unit at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. (4) Not applicable.
(3) The reviewer is not the most junior cardiothoracic surgeon in Western Australia. The reviewer was a non-training registrar in the cardiothoracic unit at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and trained at Royal Perth Hospital and other hospitals interstate. He is not a former student of the current director of the cardiothoracic unit at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. (4) Not applicable.
(4) Not applicable.
(1) Is this investigation now complete; and, if yes, has the minister received a copy of the final report? (2) If the inquiry is not complete, can the minister advise when it will be finalised and why it has taken so long? (3) Can the minister confirm that the inquiry is being carried out by the state’s most junior cardiothoracic surgeon from Fremantle Hospital, who is a former student of the director of the unit at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital? (4) Why did the minister allow such a junior surgeon to conduct the review, rather than it being conducted by a senior consultant from Royal Perth Hospital or interstate? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: (1) The investigation is in its final stages. The Minister for Health has not received a copy of the report. (2) It is anticipated that the report will be finalised by 4 December 2009. The report has taken longer than expected to complete due to the ready availability of the reviewer and because the reviewer has taken due care in completion of the report. (3) The reviewer is not the most junior cardiothoracic surgeon in Western Australia. The reviewer was a non-training registrar in the cardiothoracic unit at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and trained at Royal Perth Hospital and other hospitals interstate. He is not a former student of the current director of the cardiothoracic unit at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. (4) Not applicable.
(2) If the inquiry is not complete, can the minister advise when it will be finalised and why it has taken so long? (3) Can the minister confirm that the inquiry is being carried out by the state’s most junior cardiothoracic surgeon from Fremantle Hospital, who is a former student of the director of the unit at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital? (4) Why did the minister allow such a junior surgeon to conduct the review, rather than it being conducted by a senior consultant from Royal Perth Hospital or interstate? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: (1) The investigation is in its final stages. The Minister for Health has not received a copy of the report. (2) It is anticipated that the report will be finalised by 4 December 2009. The report has taken longer than expected to complete due to the ready availability of the reviewer and because the reviewer has taken due care in completion of the report. (3) The reviewer is not the most junior cardiothoracic surgeon in Western Australia. The reviewer was a non-training registrar in the cardiothoracic unit at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and trained at Royal Perth Hospital and other hospitals interstate. He is not a former student of the current director of the cardiothoracic unit at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. (4) Not applicable.
(3) Can the minister confirm that the inquiry is being carried out by the state’s most junior cardiothoracic surgeon from Fremantle Hospital, who is a former student of the director of the unit at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital? (4) Why did the minister allow such a junior surgeon to conduct the review, rather than it being conducted by a senior consultant from Royal Perth Hospital or interstate? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: (1) The investigation is in its final stages. The Minister for Health has not received a copy of the report. (2) It is anticipated that the report will be finalised by 4 December 2009. The report has taken longer than expected to complete due to the ready availability of the reviewer and because the reviewer has taken due care in completion of the report. (3) The reviewer is not the most junior cardiothoracic surgeon in Western Australia. The reviewer was a non-training registrar in the cardiothoracic unit at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and trained at Royal Perth Hospital and other hospitals interstate. He is not a former student of the current director of the cardiothoracic unit at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. (4) Not applicable.
(4) Why did the minister allow such a junior surgeon to conduct the review, rather than it being conducted by a senior consultant from Royal Perth Hospital or interstate? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: (1) The investigation is in its final stages. The Minister for Health has not received a copy of the report. (2) It is anticipated that the report will be finalised by 4 December 2009. The report has taken longer than expected to complete due to the ready availability of the reviewer and because the reviewer has taken due care in completion of the report. (3) The reviewer is not the most junior cardiothoracic surgeon in Western Australia. The reviewer was a non-training registrar in the cardiothoracic unit at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and trained at Royal Perth Hospital and other hospitals interstate. He is not a former student of the current director of the cardiothoracic unit at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. (4) Not applicable.
Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: (1) The investigation is in its final stages. The Minister for Health has not received a copy of the report. (2) It is anticipated that the report will be finalised by 4 December 2009. The report has taken longer than expected to complete due to the ready availability of the reviewer and because the reviewer has taken due care in completion of the report. (3) The reviewer is not the most junior cardiothoracic surgeon in Western Australia. The reviewer was a non-training registrar in the cardiothoracic unit at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and trained at Royal Perth Hospital and other hospitals interstate. He is not a former student of the current director of the cardiothoracic unit at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. (4) Not applicable.
(1) The investigation is in its final stages. The Minister for Health has not received a copy of the report. (2) It is anticipated that the report will be finalised by 4 December 2009. The report has taken longer than expected to complete due to the ready availability of the reviewer and because the reviewer has taken due care in completion of the report. (3) The reviewer is not the most junior cardiothoracic surgeon in Western Australia. The reviewer was a non-training registrar in the cardiothoracic unit at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and trained at Royal Perth Hospital and other hospitals interstate. He is not a former student of the current director of the cardiothoracic unit at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. (4) Not applicable.
(2) It is anticipated that the report will be finalised by 4 December 2009. The report has taken longer than expected to complete due to the ready availability of the reviewer and because the reviewer has taken due care in completion of the report. (3) The reviewer is not the most junior cardiothoracic surgeon in Western Australia. The reviewer was a non-training registrar in the cardiothoracic unit at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and trained at Royal Perth Hospital and other hospitals interstate. He is not a former student of the current director of the cardiothoracic unit at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. (4) Not applicable.
(3) The reviewer is not the most junior cardiothoracic surgeon in Western Australia. The reviewer was a non-training registrar in the cardiothoracic unit at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and trained at Royal Perth Hospital and other hospitals interstate. He is not a former student of the current director of the cardiothoracic unit at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. (4) Not applicable.
(4) Not applicable.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.