Inquest into the Death of Michael Anderson

0y · Male·Sequelae of drug toxicity (poisoning) — specifically respiratory depression and brain damage from codeine overdose, and hepatotoxicity from paracetamol overdose

Michael Anderson was a 9-day-old Aboriginal infant who collapsed at King Edward Memorial Hospital on 15 November 2000 after being administered a gross overdose of paracetamol and codeine (likely via crushed panadeine forte tablets). Toxicology revealed paracetamol at 890mg/L and codeine at 3.72mg/L—approximately 40 times and 20 times therapeutic levels respectively. The codeine caused respiratory depression and brain damage; the paracetamol caused hepatotoxicity. The child died on 1 March 2001. The coroner found the poisoning was deliberate (homicide) but could not identify the perpetrator. Major systemic failures included: a 10-month delay in interviewing key nursing staff due to union advice against cooperation; an inadequate police investigation relying on hospital liaison rather than direct witness contact; and a seriously deficient statement from the primary nurse (Jacqueline Luy), who provided the medications to the mother. The coroner recommended the WA Police reopen the case as an active murder inquiry and criticized both hospital management and the Australian Nursing Federation for compromising the investigation.