Inquest into the Death of Mohammad Nasim NAJAFI

Inquest into the Death of Mohammad Nasim NAJAFI

Delivered on :27 December 2018

Delivered at : Perth

Finding of : Coroner Linton

Recommendations :N/A

Orders/Rules : N/A

Suppression Order : N/A

Summary : The deceased arrived at Christmas Island by boat on 1 November 2012. The deceased was born in Afghanistan. According to information provided by the deceased to Australian authorities, he left Afghanistan because he was afraid he would be killed if he stayed.   He was subsequently detained by the Australian government as an unlawful non-citizen pursuant to s 189(3) of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth).

The deceased was initially detained at the Christmas Island Detention Centre and shortly afterwards was transferred to the Curtin Immigration Detention Centre. On 24 July 2013 he was transferred to Yongah Hill Immigration Detention Centre in Northam where he remained until his unexpected death on 31 July 2015.

The deceased was known to have epilepsy and he was prescribed anti-epileptic seizure medication. All the evidence indicated he died as a result of an epileptic seizure.

The inquest focused primarily on an issue regarding the dispensing of the deceased’s essential medication for his epilepsy.

At the conclusion of the inquest hearing the Coroner considered there had been a failing in the medication dispensing system at Yongah Hill Detention Centre at the time of the deceased’s death. The Coroner found the processes which were in place at the time did not identify to staff that the deceased was not receiving his essential medication consistently in the days prior to his death. The failure to take his medication as prescribed would have greatly increased the deceased’s risk of having a seizure.

The Coroner was satisfied that since the death, IHMS has been proactive and have now implemented a new regime for essential medications that ensures that IHMS nursing staff are aware when a detainee fails to attend a medication round for essential medication, and will appropriately follow-up with the detainee on each occasion.

Catch Words : Illegal Maritime Arrival : Detention Centres : Dispensing Medications : Epileptic : Ongoing Medical Management : Natural Causes.


Last updated: 30-Apr-2019

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