Inquest finds Kimberley man used illegally obtained prescription drug the night before death in custody

A Coroner’s inquest into the death in custody of a 46-year-old Aboriginal man at West Kimberley Regional Prison in 2021 has found the man died after smoking an illegally obtained anti-psychotic drug. Frank Albert, who was serving an 18-month sentence on burglary charges, was found clutching his chest in his cell and thought to be having a heart attack on January 8 2021. He was then taken to Derby Regional Hospital where he told staff he had “smoked a pill” of the anti-psychotic drug quetiapine the night before. As staff were preparing to transport Mr Albert to Perth for additional treatment he went into cardiac arrest and despite efforts to resuscitate him, he could not be saved. Although the 46-year-old inmate had used quetiapine the night before he died, Coroner Michael Jenkin found Mr Albert’s death was caused by already present health factors including diabetes and a pre-existing heart condition. “Although Mr Albert had significant heart disease and quetiapine can place a person at risk of developing a fatal arrythmia, there was no evidence that Mr Albert’s death was due to quetiapine toxicity,” he said. “Instead, his cardiac arrest appeared to be related to insufficient blood flow to his heart caused by his pre-existing heart disease.” However, Mr Jenkin still recommended that West Kimberley Regional Prison review its medication dispensing resources to determine whether they were sufficient to prevent trafficking of prescription drugs within the prison. According to the inquest, the trading of prescription of drugs inside the prison is widespread, citing evidence given by several inmates. It also found there were no Aboriginal health workers at the prison, who Mr Jenkin believed could have helped prevent Mr Albert’s death. “If Mr Albert had been seen by an AHW, there is at least a possibility that he might have agreed to resume taking diabetes and/or lipid medication at an earlier stage, and/or that he might have agreed to a stress test,” he said. “Mr Albert may also have been encouraged to consume a diabetic diet, especially if culturally appropriate food choices had been proactively offered to him.” Mr Jenkins recommended that the Department of Justice “redouble” its efforts to hire Aboriginal health workers for the prison and review the feasibility of having all Aboriginal inmates with chronic health conditions seen by AWHs on their initial admission to prison. A total of five recommendations were made, including a review of emergency procedures at the prison and for the DOJ to work with Aboriginal corporation and health workers to develop culturally appropriate dietary options for Aboriginal prisoners. A DOJ spokesperson said the department would carefully consider the recommendations made in the report.