[Greens-Media] Diabetic detainee risks losing sight: prima facie case of medical negligence

[Edwards, Jon (Sen K. Nettle)]

08.03.05

Diabetic detainee risks losing sight: prima facie case of medical
negligence

Greens Senator Kerry Nettle today asked Immigration Minister Amanda
Vanstone why her department had prevented a diabetic detainee, Masood
Hooseini, from seeing an eye specialist, against the wishes of the
doctor who examined Mr Hooseini following a collapse as a result of his
unmanaged diabetes.

Senator Nettle visited Masood in Villawood detention centre last week.
Senator Nettle's office then faxed and telephoned the minister's office
to request an immediate examination by an eye specialist to assess Mr
Hooseni's eyes and prevent any further damage after he complained of
deteriorating sight.

"The refusal of staff at Villawood Detention Centre and the department
of immigration to allow Mr Hooseini to receive the necessary medical
treatment is a prima facie case of medical negligence," Senator Nettle
said.

"In a statement sent to the Minister Mr Hooseini claims that medical
personnel at Villawood Detention Centre were told not to allow him to
see a specialist because Mr Hooseini had complained to the ombudsman
about his treatment.

"It's not good enough for the Minister to claim ignorance of this
matter. A fax was sent to her chief of staff on the 13th of February and
she was contacted twice last week but nothing has happened. Mr Hooseini
is still awaiting essential treatment.

"It is becoming increasingly obvious that detainees in immigration
detention centres are suffering both mental and physical health threats
whilst in detention.

"The Minister must arrange for immediate specialist treatment for Mr
Hooseini, and agree to establish a public inquiry into the operation of
the immigration detention centre regime."

Contact - Jon Edwards 0428 213 146



ATTACHED - QWN & STATEMENT BY MASOOD HOOSEINI
AJOURNMENT SPEECH TO BE CIRCULATED 




URGENT
TO THE MINISTER, SENATOR AMANDA VANSTONE
Attention Dr John Nation, Chief of Staff.
By Fax : 6273 4144
MASOOD HOOSEINI, Villawood Detention Centre
Chronology of events leading to blindness
1. In January 2005, Masood Hooseini was told by the staff in Villawood
Medical Centre that he had diabetes when he complained of cramps and
constant thirst.

2. Around mid January Masood collapsed during the night and was taken to
Hospital.
The Hospital Doctor told him he had a blood sugar level of 32 and was on
the wrong medication. The Doctor wrote out a medical prescription for
Masood to be given to
the staff at Villawood Medical Centre.

3. However, Masood was kept on the same medication and was given a diet
sheet which because his eyes were "very fuzzy" (he saw 3-4 images of
everything) he could not read. They did not brief him on the food
requirements. During this period his blood
sugar rose to almost 40 and he received an injection of insulin and
tablets to reduce
the blood sugar level. 

4. On Saturday evening, 29 January 2005, Masood was found almost
unconscious on the floor. He said he could hear but could not see. He
was very dizzy and had a very bad headache. At 8pm that evening he was
taken to Liverpool Hospital.

5. He was seen by a female Doctor who said that Masood had blood at the
back of his
right eye. She said "You have to book to see a specialist first thing
Monday morning". The Doctor emphasised to the guards who brought Masood
"Make sure this man sees a specialist". (There were two officers in
attendance from Villawood who witnessed these remarks - one was an
Indian man (Mr Sikhvinder), and the other was from the Phillipines. When
he returned to Villawood Masood was given headache tablets. The Doctor
also told Masood "If your eyes start to water and you have headaches -
these are bad signs. When there is water and headaches, you must report
these immediately"

6. On the following Tuesday 1 February 2005, Masood was taken to a
meeting with
Villawood staff including the "lady in charge of the Medical Centre",
the Nurse, Dr
Greenwood and the "lady acting for his case officer, Kevin Thompson".
After this
meeting Masood met with Kay Symons (DIMIA Officer) and the lady
representing
his case officer who said he had not taken his medication and they would
not send
him to a specialist until he had taken the medication for 3 weeks.
Masood challenged
them stating "That is not true. I have always taken the medication and
my sight is
getting worse. I am going blind". He denied that he had missed any
medication and
insisted he had already been taking that medication for 3 weeks and it
was not
working.

7. This account was given to me by phone on Tuesday night 1 February
2005. I advised
Masood's soliticor, Stephen Hodges, who tried to contact Richard
Battersby,
Manager of Villawood by phone but without success despite repeated
attempts and
after messages were left requesting Richard Battersby contact him by
phone.

8. Masood also lodged a complaint by phone to the Ombudsman who said she
would
take action.

9. This angered the Head of the Medical Centre according to the Nurse at
the Medical
Centre who does not want to be identified. Masood said that the nurse
told him that
when she was trying to make an appointment with the specialist for
Masood, the
Head of the Medical Centre said "because he had complained to the
Ombudsman, he
would not be allowed to see any specialist." According to Masood the
Nurse told him
she said to the Head of the Medical Centre "Why are you doing this to
Masood ? Are
you taking revenge on him ?"
The Head snapped at her "Don't involve yourself with this'. The Nurse
then tried to
make arrangements for Dr Chu, the second doctor in the Villawood Medical
centre.
Again she was stopped by the Head of the Centre who said "Do not arrange
for him
to see another doctor. I am writing my report."

10. Masood complained continuously to the Medical Centre that he was
going blind. On Monday 7 February 2005, Villawood arranged for Masood to
see an Optometrist. The Optometrist twice said to Masood "I cannot help
you- I can only measure your eyes for glasses - you need a specialist."

11. Stephen Hodges faxed the attached letter to Richard Battersby on 10
February 2005.

12. I spoke with Masood again today (13.2.05) to get an update of his
condition. He said he was very sick now. He reported that his eyes water
continuously and have done so for some time, they are red, and he cannot
see out of either eye. All he can see are lines - he cannot make out any
images. He reported these symptoms to the Medical
Centre but was given only Panadene by the Medical Staff at Villawood.

Frances Milne Phone/fax : 02 9810 7812
Balmain Uniting Church
Regular visitor to VIDC
13 February, 2005

_______________________________________________________________________

Senator Nettle's QwN

NETTLE, Senator Kerry, New South Wales2.36 p.m.3Nettle, Sen
Kerry00AORNew South WalesAG0Senator NETTLE (2.36 p.m.)-My question is
addressed to Senator Vanstone, Minister for Immigration and
Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs. The minister will recall the case
18 months ago of a 14-year-old boy, detained at Port Hedland detention
centre, who lost sight in his right eye and almost lost his left eye
after he was repeatedly denied specialist assessment and treatment. My
question relates to a man I visited in Villawood detention centre last
week named Masood, who has recently been diagnosed as diabetic. Is the
minister aware that on January 29 Masood collapsed and was taken to
Liverpool hospital? He was told by the doctor that he needed to see a
specialist in order to get an urgent assessment of his sight. To this
day, Masood has not seen an ophthalmologist or a diabetic specialist.
Why has the department prevented Masood from seeing an eye specialist
for 38 days now, since his collapse?
VANSTONE, Senator Amanda Eloise, South Australia4Vanstone, Sen
Amanda7E4South AustraliaLPMinister for Immigration and Multicultural and
Indigenous Affairs and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for
Indigenous Affairs1Senator VANSTONE-Senator, I am not, at this point,
aware of that. You will forgive me for not necessarily taking what you
say as being correct. I have had experience in the past, with you
specifically, of allegations being put that turned out to be quite
baseless. I do not assume for one minute that that is the case here.
Where someone's health is an issue, it should be attended to and
attended to promptly by the appropriate people. Senator, I will make
inquiries as to the allegations you make and I will come back and answer
to the Senate for what has or has not happened in relation to the
matter.
NETTLE, Senator Kerry, New South Wales4Nettle, Sen Kerry00AORNew South
WalesAG0Senator NETTLE-Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Is
the minister aware that her chief of staff was informed about this
issue, in writing, by Masood's lawyer on 13 February? I understand that,
in relation to this issue, the Ombudsman has also been contacted and I
faxed the minister last week. What action has the minister's office
taken to ensure that Masood gets medical treatment? Isn't this case,
following on from the Cornelia Rau case, yet another indication of
widespread and chronic problems with mental and physical health care in
our immigration detention centres? Can the minister inform the Senate on
what basis-on any basis-her and her department's handling of this man's
urgent medical condition is not medical negligence?
VANSTONE, Senator Amanda Eloise, South Australia4Vanstone, Sen
Amanda7E4South AustraliaLPMinister for Immigration and Multicultural and
Indigenous Affairs and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for
Indigenous Affairs1Senator VANSTONE-Senator, you may or may not be
familiar with the process by which correspondence is handled in most
ministers' offices; that is, it goes to the department for the
preparation of a reply. So, generally, I would not be made aware of
correspondence until it came back with an appropriate reply. Of course,
the tenor of your supplementary question reveals the degree of faith
with which you brought your first question to this place. In fact, by
the very question you have asked as a supplementary, you have indicated
exactly your intent in this matter, which is more political than concern
for Mr Masood.
Having said that, Senator, I go back to the answer I originally gave
you, which is-even though I have had experience of your getting things
incorrect and putting them out as propositions and finding them to be
false-I will quite specifically have this matter checked out because it
relates to someone's health and then come back to the Senate and answer
for what has or has not happened in his case. As for your tying this
matter into the Rau matter, that is an exceptional case where someone
for eight months has consistently described themselves as an unlawful
non-citizen. (Time expired)