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[This edited version of the report has been prepared by Dr Robert N Moles]

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On 24 May 2004, Nigel Hunt of The Advertiser reported that the state’s chief forensic pathologist (Dr Allan Cala) had resigned from the position because of the “crippling” workload at the Forensic Science Centre. He said that Dr Allan Cala had resigned as Chief Forensic Pathologist two weeks previously, but that he would continue as one of the states three forensic pathologists. Hunt said that the resignation had highlighted a major problem within the centre with its three forensic pathologists – Professor Roger Byard, Dr John Gilbert and Dr Cala – working under pressure due to an increasing number of post mortem examinations.

Apparently, the number of post mortems had increased from about 950 in 2002 to about 1200 in the previous year. A similar number was expected in 2004.

Hunt reported that the State Coroner Wayne Chivell had said: “The short answer is yes. Compared with other states I understand their individual workload is high, quite high.” “I think the standard workload is in the order of 300 (post mortems) a year, I think they are up around the 400 level. I think with modern demands on their time and as court processes get more sophisticated and more people question what goes on, I think they can’t get away with that any longer.”

Hunt said that Dr Cala had declined to comment to The Advertiser at length over his decision but said the current workload was “extreme”. “With the increasing case load of nearly a third in 12 months the ability to do both management and case work was impossible for one person to do,” he said. “I have resigned as chief pathologist to concentrate on the case work. I could not do both effectively.”

Hunt reported a source who worked with the pathologists as having said the “workload was crippling” and there were concerns that not enough time was being spent on individual eases increasing the margin for possible errors “substantially”.

“When you have four to do, while you don’t cut corners, you may do things that are not as thorough or as meticulous as you would like to do them,” the source said.

According to Hunt, Mr Chivell said he would be concerned if the quality of the pathologists work was suffering. “I have seen no evidence that is the case,”. “My experience is they respond to the extra workload by a blowout in the list of unfinished reports. I am conscious when they are under the hammer, their service, in terms of timeliness of reports drops off and I have been concerned about that but I have had no cause to be concerned about the quality of their work.”

Mr Chivell apparently said that reducing the size of some reports had been discussed.

Hunt reported that the acting director of the Department for Administrative Services Barry Miller said that Dr Cala’s former administrative duties had been taken over by Forensic Science Centre assistant director Rob Lokan.

“We are doing a review of those arrangements and hope to have that review done by mid-July which will determine what happens,” he said.

“Their increasing workload has been recognised and the need for an additional pathologist is being assessed.”

Source: The Advertiser, 24 May 2004, Nigel Hunt - "Workload crisis for key pathologists"

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