Coroner to probe Gisborne Hospital

Tairawhiti Healthcare will cooperate with the Gisborne coroner in his investigation into the sudden death of a young man this month.

Michael Smiler, 18, was found dead at home on August 11, six hours after being released from Gisborne Hospital's emergency department.

His partner, 18-year-old Heidi Marsh, is seeking answers to the young father's death and the delays before an autopsy was carried out.

It is the latest in a series of controversies at the hospital, including the misreading of cervical smear tests and errors in prostate tests.

Ms Marsh said she took Mr Smiler to the hospital about 10.35 pm after he complained of heart pains and breathlessness.

The orchard worker was checked by doctors and released after two hours, but died six hours later.

Mr Smiler told hospital staff he was still having heart pains and felt ill, despite being told to go home.

"He was still in pain because they hadn't sorted it out ... Those drugs they gave him didn't work."

Ms Marsh said Mr Smiler had not suffered any previous heart pain and the autopsy indicated the hospital had picked up just one of his complaints, correctly diagnosing gastro-enteritis but missing symptoms of heart problems.

Tairawhiti Healthcare chief executive Sheryl Smail said Mr Smiler was assessed promptly by the experienced emergency medical officer on duty. He was treated, observed and discharged.

"I cannot begin to imagine how distressing this must be for the whanau and friends and we offer our sincere condolences," said Mrs Smail.

"I have no reason to believe that the care he received was in any way inadequate. We believe he returned home and when his family went to wake him in the morning he was not breathing," she said.

"We will be cooperating fully with the coroner in his investigation."

- NZPA