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<\/a><\/p>\nThe shocking revelations from leaked IHMS reports on the treatment of Hamid Kahazaie show the scale of medical negligence and departmental culpability in his death in the Mater Hospital in Brisbane in September.<\/p>\n
IHMS documents show that when Hamid presented to IHMS on the 23 August, he had already been suffering intermittent fevers for two days. It took a further 36 hours of deteriorating conditions before a recommendation was made on 25 August, for his medical evacuation to Port Moresby hospital.<\/p>\n
At 11.00am, 25 August, Hamid was reported to be \u201cmoaning in pain.\u201d<\/p>\n
But, it took another day before he was flown to Port Moresby on 26 August, and yet another day before he was finally flown to Australia on 27 August. By then, he had been running a temperature of, at times, over 40 degrees for at least four days.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf Hamid had received the correct antibiotics when he first sought treatment; if he had been flown to Australia, at the first sign that the treatment was not working, he would likely be alive today. Even as his condition became critical, the Australian government delayed issuing a visa thereby preventing his transfer to Australia,\u201d said Ian Rintoul, spokesperson for the Refugee Action Coalition.<\/p>\n
\u201cSince Hamid\u2019s death, Scott Morrison has deliberately and consistently misled the Australian public about Hamid\u2019s medical treatment. He explicitly denied that Hamid had been mistreated, while the IHMS reports clearly show that he was \u2013 by IHMS and by the Australian government,\u201d said Rintoul.<\/p>\n
\u201cMorrison claimed that Hamid had received \u2018outstanding\u2019 treatment. But, just like Morrison\u2019s claim that Reza Berati was killed outside the Manus detention centre, the claim that Hamid received \u2018outstanding\u2019 treatment is a lie. Scott Morrison said in a press release, 5 September, \u201cI can advise that the department’s Chief Medical Officer is conducting an in-depth clinical review on the background to the transferee’s medical condition and care while at Manus OPC. This will be in addition to any medical review that will also be undertaken by the medical services provider, International Health and Medical Services\u2026\u201d \u201cThat too seems to have been a lie,\u201d claimed Rintoul, \u201cThe inquiries have either never taken place or the Minister is covering them up. \u201cMorrison has been deliberately deceiving the Australian public. He has covered up both the medical negligence by IHMS and the role of his own department delaying Hamid\u2019s transfer to Australia.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe responsibility for Hamid\u2019s death ultimately lies with Scott Morrison. He should resign or be sacked.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere must be an immediate open inquiry into Hamid\u2019s treatment and the role of the Immigration department in that treatment.<\/p>\n
\u201cWithout an inquiry, the asylum seekers on Manus remain at risk. Infections are rife on Manus. One asylum seeker on Manus Island (photos attached) has been suffering an ear infection for four months, and is now deaf in his left ear. Doctors have warned the infection could spread.<\/p>\n
\u201cWaiting months for the coroner\u2019s inquiry is a recipe for more Hamids on Manus.\u201d<\/p>\n
For more information contact Ian Rintoul 0417 275 713<\/p>\n