Toni Hoffman
| Toni Ellen Hoffman | |
|---|---|
| Education | Masters degree in bio-ethics |
| Occupation | Nurse |
| Employer | Queensland Health |
| Known for | Exposing co-worker's malpractice, and patient advocacy |
Toni Ellen Hoffman is a senior nurse who has received the Order of Australia medal and the 2006 Local Hero Award. She took on the role of whistleblower in informing Queensland Politician Rob Messenger about Jayant Patel, a surgeon who was the subject of the Morris Inquiry and later the Davies Commission. She originally began to raise doubts about the ability of Patel with hospital management and other staff. Both doctors and surgeons who were familiar with his work had also been deeply concerned.
She spent time in London studying midwifery and intensive care. Hoffman received a master's degree in bio-ethics in 2002.
Hoffman was the head nurse at Bundaberg Base Hospital's intensive care unit. It was alleged that between 2003 and 2005 a number of patients who were not directly under Patel's care were being treated and even operated on when no procedure was necessary. Hoffman was concerned with the number of patients treated by Patel who had serious complications. The failure of her concerns to be investigated more thoroughly may have been the cause of a number of patient deaths. The lack of support and even deterrence from her colleagues make her actions all the more meritorious.
An inquiry into the matter known as the Morris Inquiry was started but was terminated on the grounds of perceived bias. A second inquiry known as the Davies Inquiry found that the Queensland Health district manager and the hospital's Director of Medical Services had mostly ignored more than 20 complaints regarding Patel.
The Queensland Public Hospitals Commission of Inquiry says, in 3.427 (i):
Until early January 2005, Dr Keating repeatedly advised Mr Leck that Ms Hoffman's complaints were unjustified and largely personality driven when he should have appreciated (particularly in the context of other complaints) that they raised genuine and concerning medical issues.
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