Arabic version: العائلة تطالب بالمساءلة بعد نتائج التحقيق في وفاة جراحة
The family of Rosemarie Campbell is calling for accountability after a coroner’s inquest revealed that her death following gastric bypass surgery was preventable. The findings, released on Wednesday, indicated that Campbell, who died at her Gold Coast home three days post-surgery in February 2022, should not have been discharged from the hospital.
According to ABC News, the inquest found that Campbell was sent home still experiencing vomiting and pain. Her family expressed their grief, stating, “That is the hardest thing for us to carry: Mum’s death was preventable. She deserved the chance to come home and grow old with her family. Instead, we buried her.”
The coroner, Deputy State Coroner Stephanie Gallagher, criticized the credibility of Dr. Vahid Reza Adib, the surgeon who performed the operation. Gallagher highlighted Dr. Adib’s admission of providing false information to the Australian Tax Office (ATO) to facilitate Campbell’s access to superannuation for the surgery, stating that much of the letter he submitted was untrue.
In her findings, Gallagher noted that Campbell should not have been discharged, as her condition was worsening. The report indicated that had Dr. Adib been informed of her deteriorating health, he would likely have prevented her discharge, which ultimately led to her death from acute bacterial peritonitis and pneumonia.
The family has expressed frustration over the lack of accountability from those involved in Campbell’s care. They stated, “Nothing can undo the loss of a mother, grandmother, partner, sister and friend who was loved beyond words. Our hope now is that real accountability follows these findings, and that meaningful change is made.”
In response to the inquest, The Wesley Hospital has reportedly made improvements to its discharge criteria and nurse training regarding bariatric surgery recovery. However, the hospital has not commented on further investigations or changes since Campbell’s death, nor has Dr. Adib provided a response to inquiries.
