LGH deaths review

Launceston General Hospital nurse and midwife Amanda Duncan told a House of Assembly inquiry that the hospital’s former executive director of medical services, Dr Peter Renshaw, allegedly falsified medical certificates of death; the allegation remains unproven.

Tasmania’s Department of Health said an independent panel had identified six Launceston General Hospital deaths it recommended be referred to the Tasmanian coroner.

The independent panel said an additional 63 Launceston General Hospital deaths would be examined after it identified irregular practices involving medical certificates of cause of death.

The independent review found 29 Launceston General Hospital deaths, mostly between 2020 and 2022, would be referred to the coroner after the review of unreported deaths.

Tasmania Police said, after a review and advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions, there was insufficient evidence to proceed with criminal charges over the death-certificate allegations.

At a case management conference concerning the death of Margaret Joyce Binns, one of the 29 referred deaths, Tasmania’s Department of Health argued the coroner did not have jurisdiction to investigate certificates or reopen cases.

Coroner Leigh Mackey questioned why the coroner’s court would not be able to comment on the issuing of a certificate in a relevant case, and the hearing was adjourned without another date set while a written jurisdiction decision is expected.