SA Government Apologizes for Misattributing Email to Deceased Patient After System Criticism
The South Australian government has issued an apology following the mistaken release of an email that was incorrectly attributed to a deceased patient whose partner had criticized the state's health system. The email, which offered positive feedback on health services, was released by the Health Minister's office in response to public concerns raised by Bronwen Paterson, whose late husband, Stephen James King, passed away in 2025 after experiencing ambulance delays.
The government later confirmed the email originated from a different individual with the same name, leading to an immediate apology for the significant error.
Background to Patient Concerns
Bronwen Paterson publicly raised concerns regarding the treatment of her husband, Stephen James King, who passed away in 2025 following a terminal cancer diagnosis. Ms. Paterson's account included an almost two-hour ambulance wait and over an hour of "ramping" outside the Royal Adelaide Hospital during his final hours.
The Misattributed Email Incident
In response to Ms. Paterson's public statements, the office of South Australian Health Minister Chris Picton provided media, including an ABC reporter, with an email from a "Stephen King." This email, dated 2023, offered a positive perspective on the health system and was initially presented as feedback from Ms. Paterson's deceased husband.
When the ABC contacted Ms. Paterson about the email, she expressed distress, citing the release without her consent. A subsequent inquiry revealed that the email originated from a different individual who shares the name Stephen King. The error was acknowledged by the minister's office shortly before the story was broadcast on ABC's 7pm news bulletin.
Government Response and Apologies
Premier Peter Malinauskas acknowledged the error as "completely unacceptable" and stated it should not have happened. Health Minister Chris Picton issued an "unreserved" apology, taking "full responsibility" for the mistake and acknowledging an "incorrect assumption" was made about the email's sender.
Both the Premier and the Minister apologized to Ms. Paterson and the other Stephen King whose email was inadvertently released. Mr. Picton confirmed he had communicated directly with Ms. Paterson, expressing condolences and apologizing for the email error. Ms. Paterson is scheduled to meet with the minister and clinicians to further discuss her concerns.
Premier Malinauskas defended Minister Picton, rejecting calls for his resignation, but conceded the failure to verify the email's source was "not good enough."
The Premier rejected claims that the email's release was intended to discredit Ms. Paterson, stating that sharing information with media is part of the government's practice to ensure reporters are informed of all facts. Minister Picton clarified that the email contained general praise for health services and did not include confidential medical details. Premier Malinauskas stated that no internal review would be conducted, citing that the facts of the occurrence were clear.
Opposition Reactions
Opposition leader Ashton Hurn criticized the government's action and requested an investigation into the circumstances of Mr. King's death. Opposition health spokesperson Heidi Girolamo described the incident as "absolutely appalling" and called for a thorough investigation into the processes that led to the error, disputing the government's claim of no intent to discredit Ms. Paterson.
Broader Context: Health System and Elections
The incident occurred amidst ongoing discussions regarding South Australia's health system and ambulance "ramping," which remains a significant political issue. The error took place weeks before a polling day on March 21. The Labor Party had previously campaigned on addressing the ramping crisis. The incident coincided with the monthly release of ramping statistics, which showed ambulances spent 3,616 hours waiting on hospital ramps for beds.