And I worked in NSW public hospitals for 22 years and also reported deaths directly to the coroner without the intervention of an internal committee.I think you will find most senior doctors do.
Reported EVERY death or some?
Where a mistake is made and morals not as high as the public would like then level of reporting to coroner is near zero.
In a medical conference with head of Department (and in top 4 of hospital) where he turns to me (patient advocate) to say I am his witness that he instructed his registrar to act (but never bothered to check and see it was done despite being questioned 4 times in 3 weeks btw) - I'm afraid says it all.
Or being in the right place at the right time to hear head of A&E say to same Dept Head, "we sure stuffed up here, she'd only been discharged 10 minutes ago!"
Or uncovering undisclosed drug trial on female elderly stroke patients with arthritis in same Dept.
This is at 1 of top 3 ranked Australia hositals. This was found by me over course of 5 weeks.
To top it off at a palliative care meeting the head of palliative care stated, "You'd be amazed at what out internal care audit uncovers each year. The number of errors and potentially fatal mistakes we make that are picked up by the nurses would astound you. So the issues you've raised (6) are not surprising."
Then within a minute, "By the way I think I know your background, what do your brother and sister do (both in the meeting)?"
Amusingly, they both responded in unison, "We're lawyers!"
Meeting tone took on a whole new feeling post that question, but of the 5 actions to be taken by head of palliative care within 48 hours - not one was.
Looking into other 'incidents' (I became a lightening rod for other families in there as nurses' directed them to me) during that time frame was nothing but depressing.
And last night I got a call from a mother distraught that her daughter was left with ZERO pain medication during 40 hours of intense pain rated 9-9.5/10 (18yr old) as her daughter is a complicated case and the 'pain team' had gone home and were 'uncontactable' until Monday morning. I suggested she contact the medical superintendent immediately. Regularly morphine has been sent home with her due to the severity of pain she suffers (nerve issues). She was admitted last Monday and in through to now.
Unfortunately assume the worse and hope for a pleasant surprise.