Police notes from attendance at ICU Waikato Hospital, Dec.1, 2008
Anne Margaret Jacobson made this Official Information request to New Zealand Police
The request was refused by New Zealand Police.
From: Anne Margaret Jacobson
Dear New Zealand Police,
My son died in Waikato Hospital ICU on Dec.1, 2008. He died suddenly, and although he was very ill, he was no longer needing any life support as he was making good progress. As there were circumstances surrounding his death which concerned me as being suspicious, and as no satisfactory specific mechanism was identified as the cause of his sudden death, I have continued to be disturbed by it. He was 31, and the condition that had landed him in ICU in the first place had been directly caused by his hospital treatment, rather than in spite of it.
At the time of his by then totally unexpected death, I had left his bedside for a short break. I received a phone call notifiying me that his blood pressure had dropped. By the time I got back to his cubicle, he was dead. The nurse who had been caring for him said something which has caused me concern as to what probably precipitated his death. As no-one from ICU attended his inquest, it was impossible to try to officially have those words confirmed, and although I know they were said, blurted out as I came in and found David dead, I wish to see if the nurse/nurses said anything to the police which prove my correct memory. The actual words may have meant little to the officers attending, but they must still have recorded their interviewing of staff at the time...and any statements hospital staff made to them, no matter how seemingly trivial and unimportant to the officers, may mean more to me, because I am aware of the full context of the day's events, including a family meeting held early that day... and disturbing pressure from the consultant followed by a particular underlined note in her medical record entry which appeared to us to be a directive but was against our stated wishes as to what we would want if David were to suffer any setbacks.
I would therefore appreciate the full transcript of notes taken in all communication with the police that evening, first between the Waikato Hospital ICU staff and the officers attending, and following that, the communication between the police and the Coroner.
My son was David Nicholas Jacobson. He died at approximately 10.30 p.m. on December 1, 2008, In Waikato Hospital ICU.
Yours faithfully,
Anne Margaret Jacobson (David's mum...and caregiver)
New Zealand Police
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Regards
New Zealand Police
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WARNING
The information contained in this email message is intended for the
addressee only and may contain privileged information. It may also be
subject to the provisions of section 50 of the Policing Act 2008, which
creates an offence to have unlawful possession of Police property. If you
are not the intended recipient of this message or have received this
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New Zealand Police
Good Afternoon Anne,
This letter is to confirm that your request for Official Information has
been received and entered into our database for the correct person to
action in due course/asap. Your quotable entry/reference number is
17/5464. Note - We do legally have 21 working days in which to action
OIA requests, however we do endeavour to assist well within that time
frame if possible. If any further information is required you will be
contacted.
Regards,
Jess
WFMC
To: Waikato FMC/POLICE/NZ@NZPOLICE
From: [email address]
Date: 24/05/2017 04:12PM
Subject: Fw: Official Information request - Police notes from attendance
at ICU Waikato Hospital, Dec.1, 2008
Hi,
Below is an email received via the Police Crime Reporting Line Public
Information System. Would you be able to look further into this request.
Any help with this will be much appreciated.
Thanks,
Regards,
NZ Police Crime Reporting Line.
-----Forwarded by Melani Falaniko/POLICE/NZ on 24/05/2017 04:09PM -----
To: OIA/LGOIMA requests at New Zealand Police <[New Zealand Police request email]>
From: Anne Margaret Jacobson
<[FOI #5925 email]>
Date: 24/05/2017 03:17PM
Subject: Official Information request - Police notes from attendance at
ICU Waikato Hospital, Dec.1, 2008
Dear New Zealand Police,
My son died in Waikato Hospital ICU on Dec.1, 2008. He died suddenly, and
although he was very ill, he was no longer needing any life support as he
was making good progress. As there were circumstances
surrounding his death which concerned me as being suspicious, and as no
satisfactory specific mechanism was identified as the cause of his sudden
death, I have continued to be disturbed by it. He was 31, and the
condition that had landed him in ICU in the first place had been directly
caused by his hospital treatment, rather than in spite of it.
At the time of his by then totally unexpected death, I had left his
bedside for a short break. I received a phone call notifiying me that his
blood pressure had dropped. By the time I got back to his cubicle, he was
dead. The nurse who had been caring for him said something which has
caused me concern as to what probably precipitated his death. As no-one
from ICU attended his inquest, it was impossible to try to officially have
those words confirmed, and although I know they were said, blurted out as
I came in and found David dead, I wish to see if the nurse/nurses said
anything to the police which prove my correct memory. The actual words
may have meant little to the officers attending, but they must still have
recorded their interviewing of staff at the time...and any statements
hospital staff made to them, no matter how seemingly trivial and
unimportant to the officers, may mean more to me, because I am aware of
the full context of the day's events, including a family m
eeting held early that day... and disturbing pressure from the
consultant followed by a particular underlined note in her medical record
entry which appeared to us to be a directive but was against our stated
wishes as to what we would want if David were to suffer any setbacks.
I would therefore appreciate the full transcript of notes taken in all
communication with the police that evening, first between the Waikato
Hospital ICU staff and the officers attending, and following that, the
communication between the police and the Coroner.
My son was David Nicholas Jacobson. He died at approximately 10.30 p.m. on
December 1, 2008, In Waikato Hospital ICU.
Yours faithfully,
Anne Margaret Jacobson (David's mum...and caregiver)
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===============================================================
WARNING
The information contained in this email message is intended for the
addressee only and may contain privileged information. It may also be
subject to the provisions of section 50 of the Policing Act 2008, which
creates an offence to have unlawful possession of Police property. If you
are not the intended recipient of this message or have received this
message in error, you must not peruse, use, distribute or copy this
message or any of its contents.
Also note, the views expressed in this message may not necessarily reflect
those of the New Zealand Police. If you have received this message in
error, please email or telephone the sender immediately
References
Visible links
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2. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers
hide quoted sections
From: CONNORS, Andrew
New Zealand Police
15^th June 2017
Hello Anne,
I refer to your letter dated 24^th May 2017 in which you requested full
transcript of notes taken in all communication with the police that
evening, first between Waikato Hospital ICU staff and the officers
attending, and following that, the communication between the police and
the Coroner.
Your initial letter was forwarded to the Police Crime Reporting Line
Public Information System, who have in turn forwarded it to me to look at.
I have considered your request in accordance with the Official Information
Act 1982.
Your sons file has the file number of 081203/8186.
This file has been retrieved from the records to review.
There are no notes held on the file in regard to the conversations that
you seek.
Normally the process is that the staff complete a POL47 form which we
then forward to the Coroner’s Office. It is common practise that officers
would carry such forms with them in a carry bag and hand write notes onto
these forms before returning to the station to type the report for the
Coroner. The POL47 would then be forwarded to the Coroner’s office, to
begin the basis of their file. This form is also not attached to the file.
The hand written notes are normally discarded as they have been
transformed to the POL47.
Attached to the file is the Coroners findings which I have attached.
Unfortunately I cannot supply you with the information you are seeking, as
there is nothing attached to the file.
· OIA Section 18(e) : that the document alleged to contain the
information requested does not exist or (despite reasonable efforts)
cannot be found.
You have my deepest condolences on this tragedy.
If you are not satisfied with my response to your request you have the
right to complain to the Office of the Ombudsmen and seek an investigation
and review of my decision.
Regards
Andy Connors
Sergeant NZ Police
===============================================================
WARNING
The information contained in this email message is intended for the
addressee only and may contain privileged information. It may also be
subject to the provisions of section 50 of the Policing Act 2008, which
creates an offence to have unlawful possession of Police property. If you
are not the intended recipient of this message or have received this
message in error, you must not peruse, use, distribute or copy this
message or any of its contents.
Also note, the views expressed in this message may not necessarily reflect
those of the New Zealand Police. If you have received this message in
error, please email or telephone the sender immediately
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