Police gave wrong information regarding inquiry into Mt Carmel legionella related death
The police have acknowledged that they had provided wrong information when they had told this newspaper that a magisterial inquiry had been launched into the death of a Mount Carmel patient who had contracted Legionella.
On 8 November, this newsroom had asked questions about a Times of Malta report titled ‘Legionella kills Mount Carmel patient’ and asked whether a police investigation had been launched. TMI had also asked on the stage the investigation had reached, if one was underway.
Health Minister Chris Fearne subsequently told The Malta Independent that the man’s relatives did not wish for such an inquiry to take place. But the Nationalist Party insisted that a magisterial inquiry should take place.
On 17 November, the police sent the following response: “Please note that a Magisterial Inquiry led by Dr C. Galea LLD has been appointed.”
On the same day, this newsroom sent follow-up questions, relating to the date of the man’s death and asking for the date the magisterial inquiry was launched.
On 18 November, this newsroom published an article based on the replies received the following day, reporting that a magisterial inquiry had in fact been launched.
On 20 November, the police replied to the follow-up questions, saying: “Kindly note that the man passed away on the 26th September 2017 and the Magisterial Inquiry was appointed on the same day.”
But on the same day, the police press unit emailed again, saying: “Please note that our replies of the 17th November 2017 and 20th November 2017 had nothing to do with the Legionella case.”
This newsroom then requested a clarification, given that an article had been published based on the original replies received, and asked specifically whether an inquiry into the Mount Carmel legionella-related death occurred.
Questions were re-sent when no reply was received.
On 24 November, the following response from the police was received: “We confirm again that the person who we gave information about was not the person who had legionella.”
The police did not specifically say that an inquiry into the legionella-related death was launched or not, but given the response, one can assume that no such inquiry has been launched.
The Opposition had spoken up about the issue, insisting that a magisterial inquiry be undertaken to investigate what led to the patient in question contracting the disease, also expressing concern that the patient died after catching the disease through the hospital’s water system. They also expressed concern that the case was kept hidden.
Chris Fearne had told this newspaper that he was not against the idea of a magisterial inquiry but said he had spoken with the patient’s relatives and “they did not wish for a magisterial inquiry to occur.”
“I am seeking advice, even legal advice, to see whether we should move forward on the Opposition’s wish (for a magisterial inquiry) or those of the patient’s relatives, who do not want such a magisterial inquiry,“the minister had said.
Fearne had also told this newspaper that he did not believe that the Legionella case was the result of negligence. “I have confidence in the investigation conducted by the Superintendence of Public Health, an extensive investigation to find the source of the Legionella. Recommendations were made and action was taken immediately. I also have confidence in the doctors at Mount Carmel, as well as those at Mater Dei Hospital where the patient eventually went.”