Inquest into the Death of Russell Graham PENNY

56y · Male·complications of viral hepatitis related advanced-chronic liver disease (medically palliated)

Russell Graham Penny, a 56-year-old Aboriginal man, died from complications of advanced chronic liver disease with hepatocellular carcinoma while imprisoned at Casuarina Prison. He had a long history of hepatitis C and cirrhosis. In November 2024, he was diagnosed with aggressive multifocal liver cancer and classified as Stage 3 terminally ill. A critical issue identified was Russell's missed appointment on 5 March 2025 with the Fiona Stanley Hospital Liver Clinic to discuss treatment options (potentially immunotherapy) after being transferred from Casuarina to Albany Regional Prison per his request. The transfer appears to have resulted from an administrative oversight—his scheduled appointment was not prominently flagged in prison movement records despite being recorded in the system. By the time he was hospitalized again in April 2025, his disease had progressed beyond curative or palliative intervention. Additionally, the Department failed to formally notify his next of kin of his final hospitalization on 20 April 2025 in accordance with policy, though his family eventually learned of it through Russell's own efforts. Overall medical care was found to be appropriate and comparable to community standard.