An independent inquiry into unreported deaths at the Launceston General Hospital (LGH) is expanding its investigation to include 63 additional cases.
The inquiry, led by Adjunct Professor Deb Picone, was established in February following whistleblower allegations that patient deaths were not reported to the coroner as required by law.
A House of Assembly inquiry into ambulance ramping in February was told, under parliamentary privilege, that the former head of the hospital had allegedly falsified death certificates to avoid coronial investigations.
“I am bringing to light allegations of serious misconduct, among these are the falsification of medical certificates of death by the LGH’s former executive director of medical services Dr Peter Renshaw,” registered nurse and midwife Amanda Duncan told the committee.
“I have received 11 reports from doctors and nurses who have disclosed alleged misconduct relating to the death of a patient including falsified medical certificates of death.”
“Dr Renshaw would, at times, attempt to coerce them into incorrectly documenting the cause of death in the emergency department.”
“Multiple nurses have alleged to me the only time we ever see Peter Renshaw on the wards was when he came to change a patient’s cause of death.”
Of the 21 cases already examined, six have been referred to the coroner for as either a death post-procedure or unexpected death that meets the criteria for referral.
On Tuesday, Acting Secretary of the Department of Health Dale Webster confirmed the inquiry is looking into dozens more cases originally assessed by Dr Renshaw.
“While the panel has advised that they have not observed any practices or evidence that there is a systemic issue, all of these cases were originally assessed by a single former staff member, who is no longer employed by the Department of Health,” he said.
“The Panel will now examine an additional 63 matters to date that were originally assessed by the single former staff member.”
The review is expected to be completed by June 14.
