Statements 5, 6 - Two Treating Drs

LETTER FROM TREATING PSYCHIATRIST

Provider No: 0205776A

2nd july 1999

DR. P. M. LAVOIPIERRE
M.B.,B.Ch.,B.A.O.,D.P.M.
P.O. Box 247
SOUTH YARRA 3141
Tel: xxxxxxxxxxxx
Fax: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Senior Constable Costa
Northcote Police Station
James Street
NORTHCOTE 3070

Dear Sir

re: David McCOMB DOB 17.2.62

I first saw David McComb on the 17/12/97 at the request of Dr Peter Ryan the rheumatologist who was treating him for bone problems associated with immune suppression which was necessary following a cardiac transplant.
When I first saw Mr McComb, he was having problems with heroin addiction which was staged when he first developed back pain.
At initial interview, he described a very poor self image and was disfigured by pustular acne.
He took a BA at university and got involved writing music for a band called The Triffds. During that time, he started drinking very heavily and ended up with cardiac myopathy and had a cardiac transplant in 1996.
He started complaining of depression around that time and because of medication, started developing lumbar spine problems in 1986. Apart from his problem with alcohol, he had drug problems with marijuhana, speed and cocaine.
I treated him with Deptran 1 O0 mg nocte, Xanax 1 mg prn for panic attacks, and his pain problems were under control with Methadone 10 mg four times a day. I saw him regularly every month and he managed very well until January of 1999. He had problems with his girlfriend and I learnt subsequently from his parents that he had started taking drugs again and had crashed his car. Attempts to contact him were not fruitful and I even suggested that the family got in touch with him so he could be admitted to hospital. This did not eventuate and he took an overdose at home.

My last consultation with him was on the 4th January,. 1999.

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LETTER FROM TREATING GP
PROVIDER No. 297703A

DR P. BHASKAR
M.B.B.S., M.S.(Oph.) D.O.M.$.

330a, Queens Parade
Clifton Hill, 3068 Tel: (03) 9489 6200

6th July 1999

Constable Costa
Northcote Police Station
43 James Street
NORTHCOTE 3070

Dear Constable Costa

RE: Mr David McCOMB D.O.B. 17.2.1962
1 Bank Street
NORTHCOTE

Mr McComb was treated by me from 4.4.1995 until 19.1.1999.

In 1995 Mr McComb was seen by me frequently due to his heart failure (probably caused by alcohol and drug abuse) and was waiting for a heart transplantation.

On 29.5.1996 he had heart transplantation at the Alfred Hospital and was put on multiple medication. Post operatively he kept having complications such as pericarditis, gout, peritonitis and incisional hernia. He was also Codeine dependent. In April 1997 he had a fall and broke right lower end of the Radius, started getting depressed and used Heroin again. (treated by Psychiatrist Dr Patrick Lavoipierre).

In 1998 most of the time he asked for prescription by telephone. He gained a lot of weight, was unable to cope and looking more and more depressed.
I last saw him on the 28.9.1998 and I felt he was drinking alcohol again.
On the 21.1.1999 he requested the prescription of Losec which he never came to collect, so I phoned his Cardiologist and I was told that Mr. McComb passed away on 2.2.1999.

If you require any further information please contact me.

Yours faithfully,


DR P BHASKAR