Coronial enquiry adjourned

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By GEORGINA KOREI
A CORONIAL inquiry into the death of a 14-year-old boy and two others at the Port Moresby General Hospital has been adjourned to allow a change in the lawyer representing the doctors.
Lawyer Lillian Kauba told the inquiry that the doctors had arranged to be represented by a lawyer from the Department of Justice and Attorney-General.
The inquiry, led by Senior Magistrate Josephine Kilage and assisted by magistrates Annie Turi, Sandy Tiankin and Seth Tanei, is looking into the death of Rex Wanzing and two others in August last year.
It is alleged that a new batch of the drug propofol used during surgery had caused the deaths.
Kauba said the hospital chief executive officer Dr Paki Molumi had signed a letter to the Solicitor-General seeking a state lawyer to represent the doctors.
Senior Magistrate Kilage said the lawyer to represent the doctors must appear before the inquiry on Friday.
“We will have to vacate the trial proper until we hear from them, and then set new dates for the inquest,” she said. “I have also issued directions under Section 7 of the Coroner’s Act requesting representation from the State.
“If there are other persons of interest for the inquiry, please hand in their names before Friday.”
The inquiry was adjourned to Aug 19.
Magistrate Tanei told Kauba that if she had to disqualify herself from representing the doctors, she should have informed the inquiry at the beginning.
“This inquest was initiated by the office of the Solicitor-General and if you were to disqualify your representation, you should have communicated with them ,” she told Kauba.
Kauba apologised to the panel and said a state lawyer would be representing the doctors.


Magistrate: Be careful in reporting inquiry

A MAGISTRATE heading a coroner’s inquiry into the death of three persons at the Port Moresby General Hospital a year ago warned the media yesterday to be careful when reporting on the matter.
Senior magistrate Josephine Kilage said they should consider carefully whether to identify persons involved as it could affect their livelihood.
“If the doctors are concerned with their safety, their livelihood or just the fact that their names would be on the front page of the newspaper, this will adversely affect the findings of this inquest,” she said.
The inquiry is looking into the death of 14-year-old Rex Wanzing and two others while undergoing surgery at the hospital on Aug 12 last year.
Magistrates Annie Turi, Sandy Tiankin and Seth Tanei are assisting Kilage.
Referring to The National’s front page headline yesterday, “Surgery gone wrong”, the senior magistrate said: “When you put such things in the front page, you’re already pre-determining what the inquiry should say and we have not come up with any findings yet as we have just started our inquiry into this unfortunate event.”
She ruled that The National had committed contempt and fined the newspaper K1,000.
“It has affected the inquiry itself and therefore under Section 28 sub-section (c), you obstruct sub-section (b) you are willfully interrupting the proceedings of an inquiry.” (sic)
She ordered that the fine be paid by Friday.

Editor’s Note: Rex Wanzing and two other persons died while undergoing surgery in separate instances at the hospital. Our headline cast no blame other than to say that the procedures had tragic results. Nevertheless, we will comply with the magistrate’s ruling.

Elimination in progress … Electoral Commission and counting officials doing elimination for the Madang regional seat at the Holy Spirit Cathedral premises on Monday. Madang’s election manager Sponsa Navi called for calm as the regional seat exclusion stage continued into its third week. Navi said some candidates’ figures had been fluctuating during the quality checks and eliminations which was slowing the process. – Nationalpic by GLORIA BAUAI