Inquest into the death of Michael Sanderson

Case Number: 2022/318454

Date of Findings: 16 April 2025

Magistate: Deputy State Coroner, Rebecca Hosking

CORONIAL LAW - Mandatory inquest pursuant to s 23(1 )(d)(ii) of the Coroners Act 2009 (NSW)- First Nations death in custody- communication and treatment of family during terminal phase.

Responses

Recommendations 

To Justice Health NSW, that consideration be given to:

1. A requirement that Justice Health NSW clinicians consult an inmate to see if they wish to provide a 'Consent to Liaise' with their next of kin concerning their health status, as soon as possible after an inmate recevies an advanced cancer diagnosis and/or starts receiving palliative care; and
2. That actioning such a requirement should occur prior to an inmate's transfer to Long Bay Hospital, and that if not done prior to transfer, must occur at the time of reception at Long Bay Hospital; and 
3. A requirement that consultation with an inmate to see if they wish to provide a 'Consent to Liaise' with next of kin must occur when an inmate is identified as suffering from a 'Chronic Condition' under JHNSW policy and updated at subsequent Chronic Condition reviews. 

To the Commissioner of Corrective Services NSW, that consideration be given to:

1. Amending the final paragraph of Part 6.2 of the Custodial Operations Policy and Procedures (COPP) 19.6, concerning prohibitions on giving items to inmates, to refer to the potential for exceptions to be made in the case of end of life visits or palliative care visits; and 
2. Ensuring there is consistency between COPP 19.6 and the current in so far as they relate to end of life/palliative care visits.