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The lawyer for Folole Muliaga's husband has called on a coroner to recommend health professionals take greater care in how they deal with Pacific Island patients.
Olinda Woodroffe was making her final submissions today at the inquest at Auckland Coroner's Court into Mrs Muliaga's death exactly one year ago.
Mrs Muliaga, 45, a morbidly obese woman who was using an oxygen machine, died three hours after a contractor disconnected her power over an unpaid Mercury Energy bill of $168.40.
Ms Woodroffe said that though it appeared likely Mrs Muliaga would eventually die from her illness, medical evidence presented at the inquest suggested it was highly likely her power disconnection was a contributing factor in her death.
She said that advice she was given from health professionals at Middlemore Hospital and by nurse Diana Hart, who visited her at home often, was not adequate.
Ms Woodroffe said their advice meant Mrs Muliaga had tunnel vision in regard her illness. She said it meant Mrs Muliaga focused exclusively on diet and exercise and did not realise there were complicating factors.
She also said the coroner should recommend Counties Manukau District Health Board pay greater attention to its treatment of Pacific Island patients, saying hospital interpreters who understood both the verbal and body language should be used more often.
Ms Woodroffe also called on Mercury Energy, a state-owned enterprise, to be regulated, and for changes to be made either to the wording or application of the Privacy Act.
Lawyers for five other parties are expected to make their submissions today to coroner Gordon Matenga at what is expected to be the final day of the inquest.
- NZPA
