Woman suing Ramsay Health Care over alleged cover up of allegedly botched spinal surgeries

A woman is suing Ramsay Health Care for $8 million after it allegedly concealed mistakes made by one of its accredited surgeons, who allegedly left her with permanent damage to her spine. Banksia Grove resident Josanne Cronin underwent three spinal surgeries at Ramsay-operated Joondalup Private Hospital between July and November 2017. The writ, filed in the Supreme Court of Western Australia, alleges those procedures went “materially beyond the scope of the consent signed”. It is alleged that the surgeon, credentialed by the hospital, removed bone from her spine without authorisation and later performed an unnecessary spinal fusion. Since 2017, Ms Cronin has allegedly “suffered chronic pain, neurological deficits, reduced mobility, loss of employment, and ongoing psychological and financial harm”. The writ also claims other former patients of the same surgeon raised “comparable safety concerns”, which prompted hospital management to “review or suspend” the surgeon’s clinical privileges. Ms Cronin alleges Ramsay Health Care failed in its duty to “exercise reasonable care in the provision and oversight of surgical services conducted at its facility”. “The negligent and unauthorised acts caused permanent structural damage and continuing disability,” the writ states. “(Ms Cronin) has suffered and continues to suffer pain, loss of amenity, psychological injury and financial hardship.” While the general limit for bringing such claims is usually six years, the court can grant extensions in several circumstances, including allowing claims to be lodged up to three years after a person becomes aware of their injury. Ms Cronin is arguing the extent of her condition was not discoverable until this year, when further imaging allegedly showed “new fractures, instability and non-fusion at (vertebrae) L3/4 directly attributable to those procedures”, and upon receipt of her medical records from Ramsay, which revealed the alleged failures. “The delay was caused and prolonged by the defendant’s (Ramsay Health Care) lack of transparency and by the continuing reassurances from staff and subsequent practitioners,” the writ states. It also claims “comparable safety concerns” were raised with Joondalup Private Hospital management by other former patients of the surgeon. “Those safety concerns raised prompted the defendant (Ramsay Health Care) to review or suspend the surgeon’s clinical privileges, confirming the legitimacy of the safety concerns,” the writ states. It claims this shows “a wider pattern of clinical and governance issues” at the Ramsay-operated private hospital. Private hospitals in WA credential specialists as visiting medical officers, granting them clinical privileges to provide their services. According to WA Health licensing standards, each private hospital must oversee and manage its credentialed practitioners to ensure “governance systems and processes are in place for the provision of safe and quality patient care”. It is understood the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency has opened an investigation into the surgeon’s practice. A spokeswoman for Joondalup Private Hospital said the hospital is “unable to make comment in relation to Ms Cronin’s claims while legal proceedings are underway”. “The specialist who provided her with treatment was not employed by JPH but operated as a private visiting medical officer. He has not practised at the hospital since 2021.”