The family of Jennifer Buchanan is taking legal action against Barwon Health, alleging medical negligence led to her death at Geelong Hospital. Court documents claim the health service breached its duty of care, and the case is set for trial in Victoria's Supreme Court next year.
Ms Buchanan, a Port Fairy resident, died in February 2023 after being admitted for chemotherapy to treat acute myeloid leukaemia. The statement of claim, filed by her husband Paul Buchanan and two daughters, details that she entered hospital in late December 2022 and was moved to intensive care about a month later.
The documents allege Ms Buchanan suffered a perforated right internal jugular vein during catheter insertion in ICU, leading to haemothorax—blood accumulation between the lung and rib cage. She transferred to palliative care on February 10 on Barwon Health's advice and died four days later from multi-organ failure due to sepsis and iatrogenic haemothorax.
The family argues the hospital failed to warn of catheter risks and that the perforation would not have occurred with reasonable care. Paul Buchanan expressed disappointment with a hospital review of his wife's treatment, prompting the legal action to seek answers.
