Toni Hoffman

{{Short description|Senior nurse}} {{Use Australian English|date=June 2020}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}} {{Infobox person | name = Toni Ellen Hoffman | honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100|AM}} | image = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1957|7|9}} | birth_place = Sydney, Australia | death_date =  | death_place = | nationality = | other_names = | known_for = Exposing co-worker's malpractice, and patient advocacy | education = Master's degree in bio-ethics {{citation needed|date=May 2016}} | occupation = Nurse | employer = Queensland Health }} '''Toni Ellen Hoffman''' {{post-nominals|country=AUS|AM}} (born 9 July 1957)<ref name="whoswho">''Who's Who in Australia'', ConnectWeb.</ref> is a senior nurse who was made a Member of the Order of Australia and awarded the 2006 Australian of the Year Local Hero Award. She took on the role of whistleblower in informing Queensland politician Rob Messenger about Jayant Patel, a then-surgeon who was the subject of the Morris Inquiry and later the Davies Commission. She originally began to raise doubts about the ability of Patel with hospital management and other staff. Both doctors and surgeons who were familiar with his work had also been deeply concerned.

==Education== She spent time in London studying midwifery and intensive care.<ref name="alh">{{cite web |url=http://www.australianoftheyear.org.au/recipients/?m=toni-hoffman-2006 |title=Australia's Local Hero 2006 |publisher=National Australia Day Council |access-date=28 September 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120506101527/http://www.australianoftheyear.org.au/recipients/?m=toni-hoffman-2006 |archive-date=6 May 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Hoffman received a master's degree in bio-ethics in 2002.<ref name="ssalh">{{cite web |url=http://www.immi.gov.au/media/success_stories/Toni-Hoffman.htm |title=Success Story – Australia's Local Hero Speaks Up |publisher=Department of Immigration and Citizenship |access-date=28 September 2012 }}</ref>

==Allegations against Patel== Hoffman was the head nurse at Bundaberg Base Hospital's intensive care unit. It was alleged that between 2003 and 2005 a number of patients who were not directly under Patel's care were being treated and even operated on by him when no procedure was necessary. Hoffman was concerned with the number of patients treated by Patel who had serious complications.<ref name="ass">{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4080164.stm |title=Australia's suspect surgeon |access-date=28 September 2012 |date=10 June 2005 |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC }}</ref> The failure of her concerns to be investigated more thoroughly may have been the cause of a number of patient deaths. The lack of support and even deterrence from her colleagues make her actions all the more meritorious.

==Inquiry findings== An inquiry into the matter known as the Morris Inquiry was started but was terminated on the grounds of perceived bias.<ref name="ihcsq">{{cite book |title=Improving Health Care Safety and Quality: Reluctant Regulators |last=Healy |first=Judith |year=2011 |publisher=Ashgate Publishing |location=Farnham, England |isbn=978-0-7546-7644-7 |page=34 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MIPURkuGhaMC |access-date=22 January 2012}}</ref> A second inquiry known as the Davies Inquiry found that the Queensland Health district manager and the hospital's Director of Medical Services had mostly ignored more than 20 complaints regarding Patel.<ref name="ihcsq"/>

The Queensland Public Hospitals Commission of Inquiry says, in 3.427 (i): <blockquote> Until early January 2005, Dr Keating repeatedly advised Mr Leck that Ms Hoffman's complaints were unjustified and largely personality driven when he should have appreciated (particularly in the context of other complaints) that they raised genuine and concerning medical issues. <ref name="qphci.qld.gov.au">[http://www.archivessearch.qld.gov.au/search/AgencyDetails.aspx?AgencyId=10821#bookmarkDescription Queensland Public Hospitals Commission of Inquiry]. The State of Queensland. Retrieved on 28 September 2012.</ref> </blockquote>

The fact that Patel worked extremely long hours and was performing a huge number of procedures was seen to be a good thing by hospital management; he was even awarded employee of the month at one point.{{citation needed|date=March 2022}} Hoffman faced ridicule for suggesting that his presence was not beneficial and as a last resort chose to bring the matter into the public arena by approaching local MP Rob Messenger.

She is commended in the Commission of Inquiry in paragraph 3.432: <blockquote> I would also like to pay tribute to certain people whose care, passion or courage was instrumental in bringing to light the matters covered here. First and foremost of those is Ms Hoffman. She might easily have doubted herself, or succumbed to certain pressures to work within a system that was not responsive. She might have chosen to quarantine herself from Dr Patel's influence by leaving the Base or at least the Intensive Care Unit. Instead, and under the threat of significant detriment to herself, Ms Hoffman persistently and carefully documented the transgressions of Dr Patel. I would also pay tribute to Mr Messenger, the Member for Burnett. He provided a voice for staff concerns when no others seemed to exist and, although it has not been the subject of this report, he was forced, in the course of so doing, to endure animosity from a number of quarters. <ref name="qphci.qld.gov.au"/> </blockquote>

Messenger too was criticised for his stand until ''Courier Mail'' journalist Hedley Thomas did a Google search on Jayant Patel and found that he had faced disciplinary action for negligence in the United States.{{citation needed|date=March 2022}}

On 1 July 2010, Patel was sentenced to seven years' jail after he was found guilty of three charges of manslaughter and one count of grievous bodily harm.<ref name="tivs">{{Cite news |url=http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/totally-inadequate-verdict-split-on-patel-sentence-20100701-zph9.html?rand=1277963935139 |title='Totally inadequate': verdict split on Patel sentence |author=Amelia Bentley |access-date=22 January 2012 |date=1 July 2010 |work=Brisbane Times |publisher=Fairfax Media }}</ref> Then in August 2012, all convictions were quashed by the full bench of the High Court of Australia and a retrial was ordered due to "highly emotive and prejudicial evidence that was irrelevant to the case" laid before the jury. A retrial for one of the manslaughter counts resulted in acquittal and led to a plea deal where Patel pleaded guilty to fraud and the remaining charges were dropped. On 15 May 2015, he was barred from practising medicine in Australia.

==Awards== Hoffman was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for her exposure of Jayant Patel. She also received the 2006 Local Hero Award.

==Personal toll== While Hoffman has no regrets for advocating on behalf of patients, she was undermined and ridiculed by staff who resented her whistleblower actions.<ref name="jpwtll">{{Cite news |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/investigations/patel-whistleblower-treated-like-a-leper-by-queensland-health/story-fn6tcs23-1226223423898 |title=Jayant Patel whistleblower 'treated like a leper' by Queensland Health |author=Hedley Thomas |access-date=28 September 2012 |date=16 December 2011 |newspaper=The Australian |publisher=News Limited }}</ref> She took legal action against Queensland Health for gross negligence in failing to care for her, particularly denying her specialised counselling.<ref name="jpwtll"/> In early March 2012, she was awarded compensation in a private settlement.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-03-09/nurse-toni-hoffman-breaks-her-silence/3879106 |title=Nurse Toni Hoffman breaks her silence |access-date=28 September 2012 |date=9 March 2012 |work=ABC News |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation }}</ref>

== References == {{Reflist|2}}

==External links== *[http://www.archivessearch.qld.gov.au/search/AgencyDetails.aspx?AgencyId=10821#bookmarkDescription Queensland Public Hospitals Commission of Inquiry] *[http://www.abc.net.au/austory/content/2005/s1402495.htm Australian Story] *[http://www.walkleys.com/winners/2005/winners/thomas.html Walkley Award for Hedley Thomas] *[http://www.abc.net.au/rn/lawreport/stories/2006/1782252.htm#transcript Radio National Law Report – the Whistleblower] *[http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/international/2010/11/02/wus.dr.death.bk.c.cnn?iref=allsearch CNN Documentary including interviews with Toni Hoffman]{{dead link|date=May 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hoffman, Toni}} Category:1957 births Category:Living people Category:Australian nurses Category:People from Bundaberg Category:Australian whistleblowers Category:Members of the Order of Australia Category:Australian women nurses