Did dead Aborigine receive proper medical care in the gaol system?

by ray jackson, president, indigenous social justice association

(The coroner is to investigate the death of an Indigenous inmate at Ivanhoe's Warakirra Correctional Centre in western New South Wales.)

his name i am informed is royce williams and he had a known history of heart disease. his brother i am told also died of a heart attack.

the immediate questions that must be asked and answered is to the circumstances of his death. was he receiving proper medical care whilst in the gaol system? how long had he been in gaol?

and was he transferred from another gaol to warrakirra, the ivanhoe ex railway camp that was converted to a minimum classification gaol?

being a minimum security gaol, was the clinic staff, (nurse?) up to the task? whilst cpr was allegedly given, what other actions were taken? was an ambulance or doctor called in? what community medical resources were available to the gaol?

so many questions.

the report states that 'immediate attention was given to him' but that question of immediacy must be tested by the coroner and not by corrective services, commissioner ron woodham or his employees.

there are many questions that need answers but woodham's 'cone of silence', though cracked on this death in custody, is still very much to the fore. wait for the coroner is the forlorn cry! wait for 18 months to two years. just be patient. and wait with no real information.

to the williams family, friends and community, where ever they be, we offer our sincerest sympathies and condolences at their tragic loss. may he now walk his land in peace.

fkj

Coroner to probe death in custody
Posted Mon Jun 7, 2010 2:22pm AEST

The coroner is to investigate the death of an Indigenous inmate at Ivanhoe's Warakirra Correctional Centre in western New South Wales.

A Department of Corrective Services spokesman says the 36-year-old man died last Thursday of what appeared to be natural causes.

He says the prisoner complained of chest pains and when his cell mate alerted staff they went to his aid immediately and performed CPR, but he died.

The spokesman says the inmate at the minimum security jail had a history of heart problems.

The coroner will determine the exact cause of death.