Family needs peace of mind

THE family of a man who died from a stomach illness in Cairns Hospital three years ago requires closure.

The refusal by authorities to conduct a coronial inquest into the death of Arkadiusz “Arthur” Tumanis, 39, has shattered the family on the third anniversary of his death.

Mr Tumanis was found dead in a chair outside the mental health unit’s reception area on April 14, 2015, after spending four days in the hospital.

The cause of death was a ruptured stomach ulcer.

His father, Tony Tumanis, has been demanding answers.

He believes his son died unnecessarily, claiming Arthur had been complaining about severe stomach pain for several days and not moved to a medical ward.

Mr Tumanis was hoping the Northern Coroner would conduct a coronial inquest. But the coroner has refused. “I do not believe that an inquest will assist me better in understanding the missed opportunities and the adequacy of the remedial action taken in response,” he said in a letter to Mr Tumanis.

“Therefore I have decided to refuse your request for an inquest ...”

The Health Ombudsman has also ruled out involvement.

The next course of action for Mr Tumanis is the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, but it could take up to two years for an investigation.

If that is unsuccessful then he will need to lobby city MPs to get them to put pressure on the coroner to open an inquest.

For the sake of the family, for the sake of the hospital and for the sake of the medical and other hospital staff involved, the matter needs finality. Nick Dalton Deputy editor