Three years after Dougie's fateful hospital visit a court has determined his death was preventable. or signup to continue reading Kamilaroi Dunghutti man Ricky Hampson Jr, known to family and friends as Dougie, died less than a day after being discharged from Dubbo hospital in NSW on August 15, 2021. Handing down her findings in a courtroom filled with Dougie's loved ones on Tuesday, August 20, Deputy State Coroner Erin Kennedy concluded he would have lived if he received adequate treatment.
"Look at the amount of people here...
it's a beautiful tribute to how important Dougie was in your lives," she told the court. "Preventable death extends way beyond the person to the family and loved ones who are left. "[Dougie] went to hospital.
He didn't like hospital. And he didn't receive adequate care and he was lost to them." The finding follows into the 36-year-old father-of-eight's death held in Dubbo in March.
The court heard from the doctors and nurses who attended to Mr Hampson Jr during his stay, Indigenous health experts, the Western NSW Local Health District and Dougie's loved ones. "It is very clear that [Dougie] did have mental health and substance abuse issues which did lead him to some challenges, including with the law..
. however these are all issues he faced head on and worked to address," Deputy State Coroner Kennedy said. " and one who brought great joy to his parents and siblings.
.. Dougie was vibrant, he was a real personality.
"What is hoped, and what Dougie will .