Case presentation: scenarios from the Coroner's Court

with Carl Phillipson, SA State Coroner's Court
on Tuesday 5 May

This presentation will include two case reviews and an overall assessment of the challenges of providing and promoting alternative dispute resolution services within the coronial system.

Of the 12,445 deaths registered with the SA Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages in the 2007/08 financial years, 1,899 of those deaths were reported to the State Coroner.

Coronial complaints recorded for that period were almost all from the deceased’s family.  Families objected to the post mortem examinations, the retention of organs for forensic testing and the exhumation of loved ones.  Families also complained about the lengthy delays in coronial investigations, post mortem and pathology services and the backlog of inquests.

A great deal of the Court’s resources were also expended on determining questions of access to information on open files where disputes exist between family members as to who is entitled to gain access.

About Carl Phillipson

Carl is a Senior Social Worker with the SA State Coroner’s Court.

With qualifications in social work, public policy and music, Carl has worked in a variety of areas including the Royal Adelaide Hospital and South Australian Organ Donation Agency.

As an Intensive Care Unit Social Worker, Carl has assisted in resolving disputes between familiies and Intensive Care Unit doctors over whether or not to withdraw or limit medical treatement for criticallly ill patients. 

In 1999, Carl setup, implemented and participated in South Australia’s first on-call Trauma and Crisis Counselling Service.  As an Organ Donor Coordinator, he also mediated disputes within families who were not in agreement to donate solid organs or tissue for transplantation. 

Tuesday 5 May 2009

Time

5.30-7.30pm

Venue

Courts Admin' Mediation Suite,
14-16 Grote Street
Adelaide
(Enter via Morialta Street, opposite Hilton Hotel)

Cost

$5 on the night
Student: $2.50
to cover drinks and nibbles

RSVP

By 5pm on Fri 1 May to Carl.Phillipson@courts.sa.gov.au

Professional development

This event contributes:
1.5 hours for National Mediator Accreditation System
1.5 hours for LEADR accreditation