Trial hears autopsy doctor faced probe
THE forensic pathologist who examined baby Matthew Baxter after he was allegedly murdered by his father was later investigated by the Health Ombudsman over the autopsy.
It also emerged in Townsville Supreme Court yesterday that Matthew’s spinal cord went missing during medical investigations.
Nicholas Baxter is on trial after pleading not guilty to shaking or striking his sixweek- old son to death on November 3, 2011.
Dr Williams told the court yesterday he did post- mortem examinations on November 7 and 8 and concluded Matthew died of head injuries.
On questioning from defence barrister Lincoln Crowley, the doctor confirmed Townsville Hospital executive director of medical services Dr Andrew Johnson made a complaint about him in 2014.
“That complaint was in respect of the manner in which you conducted a number of paediatric autopsies, including this one,” Mr Crowley said.
“As part of that complaint, he had complained to the Office of the Health Ombudsman that the manner in which you conducted them had led to a failure to exclude non- accidental injury in paediatric autopsy.”
Dr Williams confirmed that, and added that in the investigation process two paediatric pathologists had backed up his findings.
Mr Crowley said Dr Johnson complained that a skeletal survey was not done before the autopsy. Dr Williams said he had wanted a pre- autopsy skeletal survey done, but on the morning of November 7 the radiology department said they could not do it.
“I wasn’t the one who was stopping them from doing that examination, so I can’t see why I should be criticised for it,” he said.
Mr Crowley said it was also alleged that Dr Williams “had not engaged with the clinicians” before the autopsy.
“I had to go and find the case notes because the clinicians had not provided me with case notes. They were not being helpful to me,” Dr Williams said.
He said some of Matthew’s organs were sent to Brisbane for analysis by neuropathologist Dr Thomas Robertson.
Mr Crowley said a different investigation was launched when Matthew’s spinal cord went missing in that process.
“What had happened was, here in Townsville, the brain and the spinal cord had first been in a solution ... but then they had to be wrapped up in ( covering) and put in a transport bucket to send to Brisbane,” he said.
“Somebody at scientific services, in the lab where Dr Robertson did the examinations, has thrown out the spinal cord, but provided the brain to Dr Robertson, not realising that whatever else was in the ( covering) was in fact a specimen, even though it’s clearly labelled on documentation.”
Dr Williams agreed that was true.
The doctor said he voluntarily withdrew from paediatric autopsies while he was under investigation.
“I’m very pleased not to be able to do these autopsies because they are heartbreaking, unpleasant and you always get into trouble with them,” he said.
The trial is continuing.