Page 3380 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 19 August 2009
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to go on for some months to come. While people are certainly employed to do this job, I think it is timely and fair that the Assembly formally acknowledges the work that they have put in. I hope that members see fit to support my amendment.
MS BRESNAN (Brindabella) (4.28): The death of a loved one is probably the most difficult experience any of us will ever have to deal with. Almost nothing else can equate to the shock and grief that is thrust upon us in a manner beyond our control. The immediate days and weeks following a death take enormous strength for those left behind as they are forced to face certain realities such as notifying family members and organising arrangements as a result of that death.
There is no avoiding such pain, none whatsoever, but as bystanders to those who have experienced the loss, we, whether we belong to government or not, can make sure that our interactions with those that are grieving assist in making them as comfortable as possible. It is probably even more important that government officials, as distinct from others in the community, deal with those grieving as sensitively as possible, given the official and formal role that government represents in our society.
So it was most unfortunate that in the case of the first potential swine flu death in Canberra the government did not involve this standard of care in its contact or, perhaps, lack of contact with the family. Regardless of who was involved in this case and given this was not a typical or normal situation, the family should have been informed and a confirmation made that the family had been informed before any information or confirmation was made available to the media.
The lack of contact from ACT government officials had further consequences in that family and friends became concerned that they, too, may have contracted swine flu, given their frequent contact with their father prior to his death. The family had little information on the virus apart from that provided more generally in the media and through the internet.
In understanding the family’s story, it is important to note that despite the ACT government having reduced the ACT to the protect phase, there was still substantial media about the impact the virus could have. For example, in the Canberra Times article in which the Minister for Health confirmed the death was from swine flu, there was also a statement that the swine flu pandemic was yet to peak.
Ms Gallagher: No, I did not confirm a death from swine flu. It has not been determined yet.
MS BRESNAN: Okay, I am just going by what was in there. The family were, of course, deeply concerned, especially since one of their members had the same pre-existing condition as their father and had spent time at his house after he died. The situation was further impacted by some friends avoiding attending the funeral out of fear that they, too, would come in contact with swine flu. So it was that the family were left to internet resources, trying to form their own conclusions about whether or not they were at risk.
As a precaution, some of the family attended New South Wales Cooma District Hospital to be tested for swine flu. This has been recommended to them by both the
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