Inquest into dads death at hospital hears: “Failure” cost his life

Karen Hart
A FATHER of five died when Geelong Hospital emergency doctors failed to diagnose a potentially lethal injury, an inquest has heard.
Ron Hutchinson, 49, of Bacchus Marsh, was admitted to Geelong Hospital on May 8, 2005, after falling down a three-metre flight of stairs in his brother-in-law’s house at Anglesea’s Point Roadknight.
A post-mortem examination found Mr Hutchinson died from a ruptured spleen.
Geelong Coroner’s Court heard the plant operator, who widow Jenny described as a “real ocker”, complained of severe pain in the lower chest wall when admitted to the emergency department soon after 1am.
Second-year resident doctor Amy Crowe, who had worked in the emergency department for 11 weeks, said Mr Hutchinson told her he had drunk 12 cans of heavy beer. The court heard Mr Hutchinson had a blood alcohol reading of .2.
Dr Crowe said she prescribed morphine for his pain and ordered X-rays and blood tests.
She had suspicions Mr Hutchinson had a left rib fracture, the court heard.
Mr Hutchinson, a diabetic, complained to Dr Crowe of worsening pain at 2.30am.
Dr Crowe, who described the night as the “busiest ever”, said Mr Hutchinson had developed left upper abdominal tenderness at 7.20pm, which she discussed with her superior, Dr Dale Murphy.
Barrister Frank Saccardo, for the Hutchinson family, put it to Dr Crowe the injury was a “potential ticking time-bomb” from the time of Mr Hutchinson’s arrival at the hospital.
Dr Crowe admitted with the “benefit of hindsight” that Mr Hutchinson had suffered a serious injury to his spleen.
But Dr Crowe said the pain-killing effects of alcohol could have masked Mr Hutchinson’s symptoms when he arrived at the hospital.
Dr Julia Fisher took over Mr Hutchinson’s care at 8.15am and told the inquest she considered the possibility of a spleen injury and immediately ordered a CT scan.
But a “communication breakdown” prevented the scan, Dr Fisher said.
Mr Hutchinson collapsed soon after midday and died despite resuscitation attempts.
A report to the court from Dr John Raftos concluded that a spleen rupture have been diagnosed within an hour of Mr Hutchinson’s arrival.
Dr Raftos claimed a departure from competent professional practice led directly to Mr Hutchinson’s death.
Coroner Ron Saines will hand down his findings at a later date.