❓ A parliamentary question regarding the death of Frances Cooper, an involuntary inpatient, and the alleged breach of duty of care by Kalgoorlie Hospital. The Minister for Mental Health admits to not being briefed on the incident and promises to investigate.
AnsweredQoN 950Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
FRANCES COOPER
I refer to the death of Frances Cooper, an involuntary inpatient in Kalgoorlie Hospital, who was hit by a train 500 metres from the hospital after being let out unsupervised on Sunday, 30 October 2011. (1) Has the minister been briefed on this incident; and, if not, why not, given the serious nature of the incident? (2) If yes, what were the events that led to Frances Cooper being unsupervised, given that her family requested that she have full-time supervision and be put into a locked ward for her own safety? (3) Can the minister explain this apparent breach of duty of care to Frances Cooper and what actions she has taken? (4) If the minister has not been briefed, will she undertake to get a briefing and report on the incident tomorrow; and, if not, why not? Hon Robyn McSweeney : Does her family know that you’re using her name in Parliament? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Yes, of course they do. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon HELEN MORTON
I refer to the death of Frances Cooper, an involuntary inpatient in Kalgoorlie Hospital, who was hit by a train 500 metres from the hospital after being let out unsupervised on Sunday, 30 October 2011. (1) Has the minister been briefed on this incident; and, if not, why not, given the serious nature of the incident? (2) If yes, what were the events that led to Frances Cooper being unsupervised, given that her family requested that she have full-time supervision and be put into a locked ward for her own safety? (3) Can the minister explain this apparent breach of duty of care to Frances Cooper and what actions she has taken? (4) If the minister has not been briefed, will she undertake to get a briefing and report on the incident tomorrow; and, if not, why not? Hon Robyn McSweeney : Does her family know that you’re using her name in Parliament? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Yes, of course they do. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon HELEN MORTON
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question. (1)–(4) I am not aware of that particular case. I will make it my business to make sure that I am fully briefed on it. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Is that all you can say? Hon HELEN MORTON : What else does the member want me to say? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You should know; it is an important and serious incident. Hon HELEN MORTON : It is a serious and important issue, and I am not in any way diminishing that. I do not wish to talk about it, especially in this place, or make any further public comment about it until I have a very full and comprehensive briefing.
(1) Has the minister been briefed on this incident; and, if not, why not, given the serious nature of the incident? (2) If yes, what were the events that led to Frances Cooper being unsupervised, given that her family requested that she have full-time supervision and be put into a locked ward for her own safety? (3) Can the minister explain this apparent breach of duty of care to Frances Cooper and what actions she has taken? (4) If the minister has not been briefed, will she undertake to get a briefing and report on the incident tomorrow; and, if not, why not? Hon Robyn McSweeney : Does her family know that you’re using her name in Parliament? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Yes, of course they do. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)–(4) I am not aware of that particular case. I will make it my business to make sure that I am fully briefed on it. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Is that all you can say? Hon HELEN MORTON : What else does the member want me to say? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You should know; it is an important and serious incident. Hon HELEN MORTON : It is a serious and important issue, and I am not in any way diminishing that. I do not wish to talk about it, especially in this place, or make any further public comment about it until I have a very full and comprehensive briefing.
(2) If yes, what were the events that led to Frances Cooper being unsupervised, given that her family requested that she have full-time supervision and be put into a locked ward for her own safety? (3) Can the minister explain this apparent breach of duty of care to Frances Cooper and what actions she has taken? (4) If the minister has not been briefed, will she undertake to get a briefing and report on the incident tomorrow; and, if not, why not? Hon Robyn McSweeney : Does her family know that you’re using her name in Parliament? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Yes, of course they do. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)–(4) I am not aware of that particular case. I will make it my business to make sure that I am fully briefed on it. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Is that all you can say? Hon HELEN MORTON : What else does the member want me to say? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You should know; it is an important and serious incident. Hon HELEN MORTON : It is a serious and important issue, and I am not in any way diminishing that. I do not wish to talk about it, especially in this place, or make any further public comment about it until I have a very full and comprehensive briefing.
(3) Can the minister explain this apparent breach of duty of care to Frances Cooper and what actions she has taken? (4) If the minister has not been briefed, will she undertake to get a briefing and report on the incident tomorrow; and, if not, why not? Hon Robyn McSweeney : Does her family know that you’re using her name in Parliament? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Yes, of course they do. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)–(4) I am not aware of that particular case. I will make it my business to make sure that I am fully briefed on it. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Is that all you can say? Hon HELEN MORTON : What else does the member want me to say? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You should know; it is an important and serious incident. Hon HELEN MORTON : It is a serious and important issue, and I am not in any way diminishing that. I do not wish to talk about it, especially in this place, or make any further public comment about it until I have a very full and comprehensive briefing.
(4) If the minister has not been briefed, will she undertake to get a briefing and report on the incident tomorrow; and, if not, why not? Hon Robyn McSweeney : Does her family know that you’re using her name in Parliament? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Yes, of course they do. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)–(4) I am not aware of that particular case. I will make it my business to make sure that I am fully briefed on it. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Is that all you can say? Hon HELEN MORTON : What else does the member want me to say? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You should know; it is an important and serious incident. Hon HELEN MORTON : It is a serious and important issue, and I am not in any way diminishing that. I do not wish to talk about it, especially in this place, or make any further public comment about it until I have a very full and comprehensive briefing.
Hon Robyn McSweeney : Does her family know that you’re using her name in Parliament? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Yes, of course they do. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)–(4) I am not aware of that particular case. I will make it my business to make sure that I am fully briefed on it. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Is that all you can say? Hon HELEN MORTON : What else does the member want me to say? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You should know; it is an important and serious incident. Hon HELEN MORTON : It is a serious and important issue, and I am not in any way diminishing that. I do not wish to talk about it, especially in this place, or make any further public comment about it until I have a very full and comprehensive briefing.
Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Yes, of course they do. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)–(4) I am not aware of that particular case. I will make it my business to make sure that I am fully briefed on it. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Is that all you can say? Hon HELEN MORTON : What else does the member want me to say? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You should know; it is an important and serious incident. Hon HELEN MORTON : It is a serious and important issue, and I am not in any way diminishing that. I do not wish to talk about it, especially in this place, or make any further public comment about it until I have a very full and comprehensive briefing.
Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)–(4) I am not aware of that particular case. I will make it my business to make sure that I am fully briefed on it. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Is that all you can say? Hon HELEN MORTON : What else does the member want me to say? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You should know; it is an important and serious incident. Hon HELEN MORTON : It is a serious and important issue, and I am not in any way diminishing that. I do not wish to talk about it, especially in this place, or make any further public comment about it until I have a very full and comprehensive briefing.
The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)–(4) I am not aware of that particular case. I will make it my business to make sure that I am fully briefed on it. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Is that all you can say? Hon HELEN MORTON : What else does the member want me to say? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You should know; it is an important and serious incident. Hon HELEN MORTON : It is a serious and important issue, and I am not in any way diminishing that. I do not wish to talk about it, especially in this place, or make any further public comment about it until I have a very full and comprehensive briefing.
Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)–(4) I am not aware of that particular case. I will make it my business to make sure that I am fully briefed on it. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Is that all you can say? Hon HELEN MORTON : What else does the member want me to say? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You should know; it is an important and serious incident. Hon HELEN MORTON : It is a serious and important issue, and I am not in any way diminishing that. I do not wish to talk about it, especially in this place, or make any further public comment about it until I have a very full and comprehensive briefing.
I thank the member for the question. (1)–(4) I am not aware of that particular case. I will make it my business to make sure that I am fully briefed on it. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Is that all you can say? Hon HELEN MORTON : What else does the member want me to say? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You should know; it is an important and serious incident. Hon HELEN MORTON : It is a serious and important issue, and I am not in any way diminishing that. I do not wish to talk about it, especially in this place, or make any further public comment about it until I have a very full and comprehensive briefing.
(1)–(4) I am not aware of that particular case. I will make it my business to make sure that I am fully briefed on it. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Is that all you can say? Hon HELEN MORTON : What else does the member want me to say? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You should know; it is an important and serious incident. Hon HELEN MORTON : It is a serious and important issue, and I am not in any way diminishing that. I do not wish to talk about it, especially in this place, or make any further public comment about it until I have a very full and comprehensive briefing.
Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Is that all you can say? Hon HELEN MORTON : What else does the member want me to say? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You should know; it is an important and serious incident. Hon HELEN MORTON : It is a serious and important issue, and I am not in any way diminishing that. I do not wish to talk about it, especially in this place, or make any further public comment about it until I have a very full and comprehensive briefing.
Hon HELEN MORTON : What else does the member want me to say? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You should know; it is an important and serious incident. Hon HELEN MORTON : It is a serious and important issue, and I am not in any way diminishing that. I do not wish to talk about it, especially in this place, or make any further public comment about it until I have a very full and comprehensive briefing.
Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You should know; it is an important and serious incident. Hon HELEN MORTON : It is a serious and important issue, and I am not in any way diminishing that. I do not wish to talk about it, especially in this place, or make any further public comment about it until I have a very full and comprehensive briefing.
Hon HELEN MORTON : It is a serious and important issue, and I am not in any way diminishing that. I do not wish to talk about it, especially in this place, or make any further public comment about it until I have a very full and comprehensive briefing.
(1) Has the minister been briefed on this incident; and, if not, why not, given the serious nature of the incident? (2) If yes, what were the events that led to Frances Cooper being unsupervised, given that her family requested that she have full-time supervision and be put into a locked ward for her own safety? (3) Can the minister explain this apparent breach of duty of care to Frances Cooper and what actions she has taken? (4) If the minister has not been briefed, will she undertake to get a briefing and report on the incident tomorrow; and, if not, why not? Hon Robyn McSweeney : Does her family know that you’re using her name in Parliament? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Yes, of course they do. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)–(4) I am not aware of that particular case. I will make it my business to make sure that I am fully briefed on it. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Is that all you can say? Hon HELEN MORTON : What else does the member want me to say? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You should know; it is an important and serious incident. Hon HELEN MORTON : It is a serious and important issue, and I am not in any way diminishing that. I do not wish to talk about it, especially in this place, or make any further public comment about it until I have a very full and comprehensive briefing.
(2) If yes, what were the events that led to Frances Cooper being unsupervised, given that her family requested that she have full-time supervision and be put into a locked ward for her own safety? (3) Can the minister explain this apparent breach of duty of care to Frances Cooper and what actions she has taken? (4) If the minister has not been briefed, will she undertake to get a briefing and report on the incident tomorrow; and, if not, why not? Hon Robyn McSweeney : Does her family know that you’re using her name in Parliament? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Yes, of course they do. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)–(4) I am not aware of that particular case. I will make it my business to make sure that I am fully briefed on it. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Is that all you can say? Hon HELEN MORTON : What else does the member want me to say? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You should know; it is an important and serious incident. Hon HELEN MORTON : It is a serious and important issue, and I am not in any way diminishing that. I do not wish to talk about it, especially in this place, or make any further public comment about it until I have a very full and comprehensive briefing.
(3) Can the minister explain this apparent breach of duty of care to Frances Cooper and what actions she has taken? (4) If the minister has not been briefed, will she undertake to get a briefing and report on the incident tomorrow; and, if not, why not? Hon Robyn McSweeney : Does her family know that you’re using her name in Parliament? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Yes, of course they do. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)–(4) I am not aware of that particular case. I will make it my business to make sure that I am fully briefed on it. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Is that all you can say? Hon HELEN MORTON : What else does the member want me to say? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You should know; it is an important and serious incident. Hon HELEN MORTON : It is a serious and important issue, and I am not in any way diminishing that. I do not wish to talk about it, especially in this place, or make any further public comment about it until I have a very full and comprehensive briefing.
(4) If the minister has not been briefed, will she undertake to get a briefing and report on the incident tomorrow; and, if not, why not? Hon Robyn McSweeney : Does her family know that you’re using her name in Parliament? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Yes, of course they do. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)–(4) I am not aware of that particular case. I will make it my business to make sure that I am fully briefed on it. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Is that all you can say? Hon HELEN MORTON : What else does the member want me to say? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You should know; it is an important and serious incident. Hon HELEN MORTON : It is a serious and important issue, and I am not in any way diminishing that. I do not wish to talk about it, especially in this place, or make any further public comment about it until I have a very full and comprehensive briefing.
Hon Robyn McSweeney : Does her family know that you’re using her name in Parliament? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Yes, of course they do. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)–(4) I am not aware of that particular case. I will make it my business to make sure that I am fully briefed on it. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Is that all you can say? Hon HELEN MORTON : What else does the member want me to say? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You should know; it is an important and serious incident. Hon HELEN MORTON : It is a serious and important issue, and I am not in any way diminishing that. I do not wish to talk about it, especially in this place, or make any further public comment about it until I have a very full and comprehensive briefing.
Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Yes, of course they do. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)–(4) I am not aware of that particular case. I will make it my business to make sure that I am fully briefed on it. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Is that all you can say? Hon HELEN MORTON : What else does the member want me to say? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You should know; it is an important and serious incident. Hon HELEN MORTON : It is a serious and important issue, and I am not in any way diminishing that. I do not wish to talk about it, especially in this place, or make any further public comment about it until I have a very full and comprehensive briefing.
Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)–(4) I am not aware of that particular case. I will make it my business to make sure that I am fully briefed on it. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Is that all you can say? Hon HELEN MORTON : What else does the member want me to say? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You should know; it is an important and serious incident. Hon HELEN MORTON : It is a serious and important issue, and I am not in any way diminishing that. I do not wish to talk about it, especially in this place, or make any further public comment about it until I have a very full and comprehensive briefing.
The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)–(4) I am not aware of that particular case. I will make it my business to make sure that I am fully briefed on it. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Is that all you can say? Hon HELEN MORTON : What else does the member want me to say? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You should know; it is an important and serious incident. Hon HELEN MORTON : It is a serious and important issue, and I am not in any way diminishing that. I do not wish to talk about it, especially in this place, or make any further public comment about it until I have a very full and comprehensive briefing.
Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)–(4) I am not aware of that particular case. I will make it my business to make sure that I am fully briefed on it. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Is that all you can say? Hon HELEN MORTON : What else does the member want me to say? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You should know; it is an important and serious incident. Hon HELEN MORTON : It is a serious and important issue, and I am not in any way diminishing that. I do not wish to talk about it, especially in this place, or make any further public comment about it until I have a very full and comprehensive briefing.
I thank the member for the question. (1)–(4) I am not aware of that particular case. I will make it my business to make sure that I am fully briefed on it. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Is that all you can say? Hon HELEN MORTON : What else does the member want me to say? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You should know; it is an important and serious incident. Hon HELEN MORTON : It is a serious and important issue, and I am not in any way diminishing that. I do not wish to talk about it, especially in this place, or make any further public comment about it until I have a very full and comprehensive briefing.
(1)–(4) I am not aware of that particular case. I will make it my business to make sure that I am fully briefed on it. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Is that all you can say? Hon HELEN MORTON : What else does the member want me to say? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You should know; it is an important and serious incident. Hon HELEN MORTON : It is a serious and important issue, and I am not in any way diminishing that. I do not wish to talk about it, especially in this place, or make any further public comment about it until I have a very full and comprehensive briefing.
Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Is that all you can say? Hon HELEN MORTON : What else does the member want me to say? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You should know; it is an important and serious incident. Hon HELEN MORTON : It is a serious and important issue, and I am not in any way diminishing that. I do not wish to talk about it, especially in this place, or make any further public comment about it until I have a very full and comprehensive briefing.
Hon HELEN MORTON : What else does the member want me to say? Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You should know; it is an important and serious incident. Hon HELEN MORTON : It is a serious and important issue, and I am not in any way diminishing that. I do not wish to talk about it, especially in this place, or make any further public comment about it until I have a very full and comprehensive briefing.
Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : You should know; it is an important and serious incident. Hon HELEN MORTON : It is a serious and important issue, and I am not in any way diminishing that. I do not wish to talk about it, especially in this place, or make any further public comment about it until I have a very full and comprehensive briefing.
Hon HELEN MORTON : It is a serious and important issue, and I am not in any way diminishing that. I do not wish to talk about it, especially in this place, or make any further public comment about it until I have a very full and comprehensive briefing.
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