WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this story contains images of people who have died.
The case of Ricky Hampson Jr, who died soon after he was discharged from a NSW regional hospital, is a tragic example of why Aboriginal people are scared of the health system, an inquest has been told.
“He lived in fear of hospitals and justifiably so, given consistently poor outcomes First Nations people have had to deal with,” barrister Callan O’Neill told an inquest into Hampson Jr’s death.
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Hampson Jr, also known as Dougie, died at a friend’s house on August 16, 2021, less than 24 hours after he was discharged from Dubbo Hospital, in western NSW.
The 36-year-old Kamilaroi-Dunghutti man died of perforated duodenal ulcers.
He had gone to the emergency department two days earlier “writhing in pain” and reporting a popping or tearing sensation in his abdomen.
A two-week inquest, which has been examining whether racism and bias influenced Hampson Jr’s treatment, is due to finish on Friday morning.
Deputy State Coroner Erin Kennedy has been told Hampson Jr was wrongly diagnosed with a drug-related condition and was not referred for scans that could have saved his life.
Emergency doctor Sokol Nushaj told the inquest he misdiagnosed Hampson Jr with cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome after recognising his symptoms of agitation and pain.
Nushaj said his error was the result of “cognitive bias” because he had treated other patients with the condition and closed his mind to alternatives.
Some members of the Hampson family left the courtroom when Nushaj apologised last week.
O’Neill, the barrister representing Hampson Jr’s parents, said there was a “litany of errors” that led to his death.
“Indigenous people in this country have been hearing sorry for decades,” he said in his closing address to the coroner in Dubbo on Thursday.
“Only change can make a difference and only change would be justice for Dougie.”
Counsel assisting the inquest Simeon Beckett SC said it would be open for the coroner to find bias played a role in Hampson’s treatment and death.
“One of the reasons Dr Nushaj reached the erroneous diagnosis was that he had seen Aboriginal people in ED with CHS,” he said.
The Hampson family want a memorial for Dougie set up at the hospital as one way of avoiding similar errors.
Ricky Hampson Sr said hospitals create fear among Aboriginal people and they are responsible for making change.
“We have this fear because we know of family members and other First Nations families who have lost their loved ones in hospitals,” Hampson said.
“These hospitals are not safe for us and that is why we are scared.
“This fear should be the hospital’s problem and responsibility, not the individuals and communities.”
The coroner will hear more final submissions on Friday and hand down findings at a later date.
