Counselling
10 After the Clybucca Flat coach crash in 1989, a psychologist spoke to the DVI team members and discussed with them what they would probably be feeling during the course of the shift, dealing with dismembered bodies of the crash victims. There is no doubt that the nature of the duties carried out by the plaintiff made his job a very stressful one.
11 In 1991 the plaintiff underwent psychological testing. It was to be done on a regular basis but this did not occur. In 1997 the plaintiff consulted Dr Goldman a clinical psychologist, on about four occasions. On the final day at Port Arthur, namely 7 May 1996, as the Forensic Ballistic Group from New South Wales were leaving the foyer of the Tasmanian Police complex to travel to the airport and return to Sydney, they met with Mr David Mutton of the Psychology Unit, Medical Branch of the New South Wales Police Service who had just arrived in Hobart. Mr Mutton was sorry that he had not been able to catch up with the group but he would catch up with them back in Sydney. The plaintiff was never contacted by or had any conversation with Mr David Mutton in relation to the Port Arthur historic site incident. Two weeks after they had returned from Hobart "a round table discussion" was organised for the personnel who had attended Port Arthur with consultant psychologist, Mr David Goldman.
12 In 1997 the plaintiff was aware he was suffering a general feeling of depression, insomnia and emotional outbursts. He did not receive any feedback either, formal or informal, from Mr Goldman on what the results of those counselling services were.
13 From July 1997 until June 1998 the plaintiff was placed in the role of Leader, Weapons Disposal Section for the duration of the Commonwealth Gun Buy Back Scheme. In July 1998, the plaintiff returned to operational duties in the Forensic Ballistics Section. During this period the plaintiff was still required to continue with the preparation of technical briefs, including laboratory examination and analysis of exhibits, in order to meet the needs of outstanding court matters. The symptoms that had led the plaintiff to see Mr. Goldman had not altered or changed.
14 The plaintiff believes that in 1999 the psychological unit of the Police department was closed down. In early 1999 the plaintiff began having difficulty dealing with aspects of his employment. The plaintiff could no longer get close to bodies nor handle them for the purposes of making detailed examinations, finding it difficult examining crime scenes. At about that time the plaintiff deposes to having a conversation with Senior Sergeant Wayne Hoffman where he voiced the problems he was having with his work. As a result of that conversation, the plaintiff was removed from on-call duties and did not return to that role. Soon after, the plaintiff's condition deteriorated and he began to display symptoms such as problems with decision-making, gradually declining confidence, loss of memory of standard workplace procedures, becoming withdrawn and uncertain, developing strong anti-social attitudes and not wanting to venture outside his home. Despite ceasing smoking two years earlier, the plaintiff resumed smoking.
15 In September 1999, as a result of a general memorandum distributed by the Forensic Services Group Administration for all Forensic Services Group staff to undergo psychological assessment, the plaintiff was sent by arrangement of the NSW Police for psychological assessment by Senior Sergeant Jennifer Lette, a qualified psychologist, of the Police Psychology Unit. The consultation lasted about two hours and the plaintiff completed a document that consisted of about five hundred questions. After that consultation the plaintiff was contacted by telephone by Senior Sergeant Lette and asked to re-attend for another consultation.
16 On 10 December 1999, the plaintiff attended two consultations with Dr Wright. At the conclusion of the second consultation, Dr Wright suggested the plaintiff take a break from work. The plaintiff took about three weeks off work. On 14 January 2000 before returning to work, the plaintiff again saw Dr Wright. At that stage the plaintiff understood that Dr Wright was advising him that he needed to take a break from his normal work in the Forensic Ballistics Section and needed to undergo treatment to try to get better. At this stage Dr Wright did not advise or mention to him that he was suffering any injury or disorder.
17 On 6 February 2000, the plaintiff made a claim for Hurt on Duty benefits. For the purposes of receiving the Hurt on Duty benefits Dr Wright on behalf of the Police Service examined the plaintiff. Prior to April or May 2000 the plaintiff formed the view that he did not want to go back to work because of the way he had felt when working in the Forensic Ballistics Section. At that time he felt his condition had improved and he realised that he could not go back to work because what he had been exposed to in that environment had caused his deterioration. In about April or May 2000 the plaintiff was first informed that he suffered from an illness and major depression. Also in April 2000 the plaintiff and his wife separated.
18 At about Christmas 2000 Dr Wright advised the plaintiff that he was suffering from depression. When Dr Wright first advised the plaintiff about depression he did not appreciate that it was a psychiatric injury or a psychiatric illness believing it was something that was temporary, that comes and goes. Dr Wright prescribed medication. The plaintiff first took medication in late December 1999. The plaintiff continued to take that medication for a period of two years until December 2001.
19 On 2 March 2001, the plaintiff made an application for medical discharge (see Annexure A to the affidavit of John Dickinson sworn 20 June 2003).
20 On 2 May 2002, the plaintiff saw Dr Canaris who advised the plaintiff that he was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
21 On 31 July 2002, the plaintiff deposed that his solicitor advised him of Dr Wright's opinion, namely that Dr Wright believed that the plaintiff should have been given information as to the likely psychological consequences of repeated exposure to traumatic incidents, or if he had been given information on the availability of treatment to help deal with such psychological sequelae. If the plaintiff was given this information it would have enabled him to recognise the early symptoms of his psychiatric disorder and thus seek early intervention and that early intervention would have reduced the overall severity or duration of his condition. It was then that the plaintiff understood the acts and omissions that caused his psychiatric injuries.
22 On 2 August 2002, the plaintiff was medically discharged from the Police Service. For the purpose of his medical discharge the plaintiff was examined by consultant psychiatrists Dr David S. Berecry on behalf of the Police Service and Dr Michael D. McGrath on behalf of State Super SAS Trustee Corporation.
23 The plaintiff has not been employed since his medical discharge.
24 On 22 August 2002, this notice of motion and the statement of claim were filed.
25 On 16 February 2004, the plaintiff filed an amended statement of claim.