GP cleared in Q fever vax case
27th October 2012
By Sarah Colyer
The Supreme Court of Victoria has found in favour of a busy GP who failed to follow up a patient who did not return as advised for Q fever vaccination and later developed the condition.
Stephen Grinham was working at the Tabro Meats abattoir in Gippsland when he contracted Q fever in early 2006 — a bacterial infection causing high fever, rigors, lethargy and profuse sweating.
He now has post-Q fever syndrome, involving prolonged symptoms of the same condition, which has incapacitated him for work.
In 2002, soon after starting work at the abattoir, Mr