Doctor who raised alarm about morgue case acted with ‘integrity’
WA authorities dispute claims a man was still alive when taken to a morgue, but admit a doctor was asked to backdate his death
WA officials have denied suggestions a palliative care patient may have been alive when he was transferred to a Perth morgue.
The state coroner’s court is examining the allegations relating to a 55-year-old patient at Rockingham General Hospital, who was moved from a ward to the morgue on 5 September without his death having been formally certified.
A doctor raised the alarm about the man’s condition after he was asked the following day to certify the death and backdate the certificate.
In a report to the coroner, the doctor alleged the patient’s eyes were open, two limbs had shifted position and there was blood on his hospital gown.
