House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2021-08-25 Daily Xml

Contents

Raethel, Ms H.

Mr PICTON (Kaurna) (14:51): My question is to the Premier. Since the missed cancer diagnosis of Hazel Raethel in 2019, can the Premier assure the house that there have been no further missed cancer diagnoses?

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Planning and Local Government) (14:51): Again, I urge the member that, if there are concerns about anyone, including this family member that he has spoken to about Mrs Raethel or any other party, we would be happy to receive that information and follow it up for the member, but I make this clear: sometimes with these matters, including particularly where there are some health circumstances surrounding people, they are very private about these things and they don't necessarily want them put across the media. So I would urge the member to either refer the matter to me as Attorney-General if there are concerns in relation to a request that has been presented, either with or without representation and—

Mr Picton interjecting:

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: Well, in relation to some state liability, in relation to where there is any instrumentality or employee of government, I invite the member to write to me with the detail of that, especially if he thinks there has been some failing. At the moment, it appears from what he has indicated to date—I may be getting this wrong—that there is an allegation of a breach of duty of care by one or more others in a hospital setting in relation to the diagnosis and care of a Mrs Raethel. That is really all I know.

I am not aware of any request for the Coroner to proceed with an inquest into this matter, whether it is a death that is reportable for the purposes of being in the care of the hospital or whether she was under any detention order or guardianship order and, thirdly, whether there was any request for support financially in any compensation request. If the member wants to send those matters to me with the permission of the family, I'm happy to have a look at that.