DARWIN, Australia – An inquest into the death of a 37-year-old Indigenous man in a maximum security prison has uncovered systemic failures in the prison’s health facilities. The man, whose name cannot be used for cultural reasons, died in palliative care at Royal Darwin Hospital after suffering a heart attack while serving a prison sentence.
The inquest heard that the man had been unmedicated for high cholesterol and a high cardiac risk, and was not provided with adequate healthcare at the prison. A cardiologist testified that the man may have survived if he had been hospitalized sooner.
The man, who was from a small Northern Territory community, was four months into a six-month sentence for assaulting his former partner. His family members, who were also in custody at the time, raised concerns about his deteriorating health to prison officers, but their pleas were dismissed.
It was revealed that the man’s symptoms were not taken seriously, and he was not provided with proper medical care until it was too late. The inquest also highlighted deficiencies in communication between prison officers, medical staff, and prisoners with complex health needs, as well as the lack of Aboriginal liaison officers within prisons.
The man had a history of health issues and had previously been diagnosed with high cholesterol. Despite this, he did not receive adequate medical attention while in custody, leading to his untimely death. The inquest also brought to light the shortage of Aboriginal interpreters within the prison system, which may have impacted the man’s ability to understand and communicate about his health issues.
The coroner expressed concerns over the lack of resources and support for non-English speakers within the justice and healthcare systems. The case has sparked discussions about the need for more effective communication and healthcare services for Indigenous and non-English speaking individuals within the Australian prison system.