Inquest into the Death of Kimberley Michael VULICH
Inquest into the Death of Kimberley (Kim) Michael VULICH
Delivered on : 12 February 2025
Delivered at : Perth
Finding of : Deputy State Coroner Linton
Recommendations : Yes
I recommend that the Honourable Minister for Health give active consideration to funding the WACHS to continue and expand the Older Adult Care Coordination Team in the South West in order to ensure that the needs of the vulnerable members of the increasingly ageing population in the region are identified and met, to hopefully avoid another tragic death like that of Kim Vulich.
Orders/Rules : N/A
Suppression Order : N/A
Summary : In the early hours of 30 November 2020 Kimberley (Kim) Michael Vulich’s caravan caught fire in Nannup. He suffered serious burns in the incident. He was transported to Fiona Stanley Hospital or treatment but his injuries were too severe and he died in hospital later that day. The cause of death was complications in association with thermal injuries in a man with underlying chronic liver disease, medically palliated.
Mr Vulich’s death occurred in the context that he had been admitted to a number of hospitals in the South West in the month before his death due to impaired cognitive function and other associated complications of his chronic liver disease. His son had been assisted to obtain a guardianship order in relation to where his father could live and some aspects of his finances, but the order did not cover decisions relating to Mr Vulich’s medical care as it had been felt that, following treatment, he had sufficient capacity to make those decisions. This had led to some confusion as to whether Mr Vulich had capacity to discharge himself against medical advice. He left hospital a number of times against medical advice and returned to his caravan in Nannup and then was returned to hospital. Prior to his death, he had been discharged himself against medical advice from Bridgetown Hospital and hitchhiked back to his caravan in Nannup. He had been evicted from the caravan park due to non-payment of fees and his caravan had been moved to the street outside, so he was not connected to electricity. During the night, Mr Vulich lit a fire inside the caravan for light/warmth. The fire got out of control and he was badly burnt before escaping the caravan. Despite medical treatment, he died from complications of his burns.
The Deputy State Coroner ordered a discretionary inquest into the death to explore the circumstances of Mr Vulich’s death, noting he had discharged himself against medical advice in the days prior to his death and police had been requested to perform a welfare check, which had not yet occurred. The inquest also explored what services are available in the South West for people like Mr Vulich, who have cognitive issues and require low cost supported accommodation but not full nursing care.
Evidence was heard from a number of health practitioners and a police officer who work in the South West and were involved with Mr Vulich prior to his death. A representative from the WA Country Health Service and the WA Police Force also gave evidence about more general policy issues arising from the evidence.
The Deputy State Coroner found that the death occurred by way of accident. The Deputy State Coroner made one recommendation for funding to continue and expand the Older Adult Care Coordination Team in the South West.
Catch Words : Discretionary Inquest : Discharge Against Medical Advice : Welfare Check : Older Adult Care Coordination Team : Recommendation : Older Adult Care Coordination Team
Last updated: 25 February 2025