❓ Hon Nick Goiran questions the Attorney General regarding discrepancies in the number of reported post-abortion neonatal deaths before the Coroner's Court. The Attorney General clarifies the reporting process and explains the difference between matters reported and reportable deaths under the Coroners Act 1996.
AnsweredQoN 932Legislative Council
Asked
29 August 2023
Member
Portfolio
parliamentary secretary representing the Attorney General
QuestionView source ↗
STATE CORONER — CASE BACKLOG
932. Hon NICK GOIRAN to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Attorney General:
I
refer to the parliamentary secretary's statement to the house on 8
August 2023 in which he clarified the answer to question on notice 1267 and advised that there are 28 cases of
post-abortion neonatal deaths with the Coroner's Court ,
including one reported in May 2021.
(1) Is the
Attorney General aware that on 19 September 2018, I reported 27 deaths to the
coroner after his then representative, the Leader of the House, had informed
the house the previous day that pursuant to advice from the State Solicitor's
Office those deaths were reportable?
(2) Is the
Attorney General aware that on 10 May 2022, the Leader of the House advised on
behalf of the Minister for Health that a further four such deaths had been
reported to the coroner?
(3) In light of
this prima facie discrepancy, will the Attorney clarify why there are not 31
cases presently before the Coroner's Court?
(4) Other than 19 September 2018 and
May 2021, were cases reported on any other date?
932. Hon NICK GOIRAN to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Attorney General:
I
refer to the parliamentary secretary's statement to the house on 8
August 2023 in which he clarified the answer to question on notice 1267 and advised that there are 28 cases of
post-abortion neonatal deaths with the Coroner's Court ,
including one reported in May 2021.
(1) Is the
Attorney General aware that on 19 September 2018, I reported 27 deaths to the
coroner after his then representative, the Leader of the House, had informed
the house the previous day that pursuant to advice from the State Solicitor's
Office those deaths were reportable?
(2) Is the
Attorney General aware that on 10 May 2022, the Leader of the House advised on
behalf of the Minister for Health that a further four such deaths had been
reported to the coroner?
(3) In light of
this prima facie discrepancy, will the Attorney clarify why there are not 31
cases presently before the Coroner's Court?
(4) Other than 19 September 2018 and
May 2021, were cases reported on any other date?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice
of the question. The following answer was provided to me on 15 August by the
Attorney General.
(1)–(4) By
letter on 26 April 2019, the Department of Health reported 26 matters to the
State Coroner. Review of the medical records provided to the Coroner's
Court by the Department of Health at that time indicated a total of 28 distinct
matters, two more than reported.
Following review of the medical
records associated with the 28 matters, it was determined that two were not
reportable deaths within the meaning of the Coroners Act 1996. On 18 December
2019, two further matters were reported to the State Coroner. However, review
of the associated medical records disclosed only a single death—the
death of the child was a relevant reportable death, but records of both the
child and the surviving patient who gave birth had been provided to the State
Coroner. On 26 May 2021, one additional matter was reported to the State
Coroner. As such, while there were 31 matters reported to the State Coroner,
only 28 are reportable deaths for the purposes of the Coroners Act 1996.
of the question. The following answer was provided to me on 15 August by the
Attorney General.
(1)–(4) By
letter on 26 April 2019, the Department of Health reported 26 matters to the
State Coroner. Review of the medical records provided to the Coroner's
Court by the Department of Health at that time indicated a total of 28 distinct
matters, two more than reported.
Following review of the medical
records associated with the 28 matters, it was determined that two were not
reportable deaths within the meaning of the Coroners Act 1996. On 18 December
2019, two further matters were reported to the State Coroner. However, review
of the associated medical records disclosed only a single death—the
death of the child was a relevant reportable death, but records of both the
child and the surviving patient who gave birth had been provided to the State
Coroner. On 26 May 2021, one additional matter was reported to the State
Coroner. As such, while there were 31 matters reported to the State Coroner,
only 28 are reportable deaths for the purposes of the Coroners Act 1996.
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