Apology issued over Aboriginal woman’s death in custody
Key points:
- Western Australia’s police chief has formally apologised over the death of a 22-year-old Aboriginal woman in custody.
- A coroner found Ms Dhu had been treated inhumanely by police and received deficient treatment from hospital staff.
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The apology is made after a mediation process that concluded in March, according to the police statement.
Western Australia’s police chief has formally apologised over the death of a 22-year-old Aboriginal woman in custody.
Yamatji woman Ms Dhu, whose first name has not been used for cultural reasons, died two days after being locked up at South Hedland Police Station on August 4, 2014.
She had been arrested for unpaid fines totalling $3622.
A coroner found Ms Dhu had been treated inhumanely by police and received deficient treatment from hospital staff.
Police Commissioner Col Blanch issued a joint statement on Friday with the head of WA’s regional health service, Jeff Moffet.
“On behalf of the Western Australia Police Force and WA Country Health Service, we apologise to the family and community of the late Ms Dhu,” they said.
“We are truly sorry for the circumstances of Ms Dhu’s death and recognise the significant impact her passing has had on her family and her community.
The apology is made after a mediation process that concluded in March, according to their statement.
“Other than this apology, details of the conclusion of the mediation process remain confidential.”
In 2021, a doctor who failed to properly examine Ms Dhu was found guilty of professional misconduct.
Ms Dhu died from staphylococcal septicaemia and pneumonia after an infection in her fractured ribs, caused by her partner, spread to her lungs.
She died during her third visit in as many days to the Hedland Health Campus.
The doctor who examined Ms Dhu at the hospital the day before her death missed her high heart rate, which had been recorded by the triage nurse.
He also didn’t take her temperature or order an X-ray, instead making reference in his notes to “withdrawal from drugs” and “behavioural issues”.
She was subsequently declared fit for custody.
The coroner in 2016 determined Ms Dhu’s death could have been prevented if her illness had been diagnosed earlier and she had been given antibiotics.
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