Inquest finds woman should not have been discharged after gastric bypass surgery
A Queensland coronial inquest has found that Rosemarie Campbell, 62, who died at home three days after gastric bypass surgery in February 2022, likely would have survived had she not been prematurely discharged from Brisbane's Wesley Hospital. Deputy State Coroner Stephanie Gallagher found that nursing staff failed to adequately communicate Campbell's deteriorating condition to surgeon Dr Vahid Reza Adib, and that Adib's credibility was seriously undermined by false statements he made in support of her surgery funding. The findings raise significant concerns about discharge protocols, surgical oversight, and medical ethics in private hospital settings.
Rosemarie Campbell died on February 27, 2022, three days after undergoing a second gastric bypass procedure performed by Dr Vahid Reza Adib at The Wesley Hospital in Brisbane. Following surgery, Campbell experienced persistent vomiting and deteriorating vital signs, yet was discharged at midday on February 26 after nurses contacted Adib about her nausea but failed to relay full information about her other vital signs, two of which had been incorrectly recorded as zero. Deputy State Coroner Stephanie Gallagher found that had Adib been properly informed and reviewed Campbell in person, he would not have approved her discharge, and the underlying complications — bowel herniation and perforation leading to acute bacterial peritonitis and pneumonia — would likely have been identified and treated. The coroner also found that Adib had written a letter containing false statements to support Campbell's early superannuation access to fund the surgery, describing her condition as life-threatening when he later conceded it was not, and that he had engaged in deliberate and substantial exaggeration about the quality of pre-operative care he provided. Gallagher concluded that the path to surgery was unnecessarily rushed and that the advice given to Campbell was likely inadequate, noting that a gastroscopy should have been offered before proceeding with the serious operation. Since the inquest, The Wesley Hospital has implemented improvements to discharge criteria, vital signs procedures, and nurse training for bariatric surgery recovery. The Health Ombudsman suspended Adib from practising medicine in June 2025, and he has since been charged with rape — allegations he denies and intends to contest in court.
What's missing
It is unclear whether Campbell's family intends to pursue civil litigation.
How coverage differed
Both outlets reported the core findings neutrally, but the Sydney Morning Herald provided additional context about Adib's rape charges and suspension, as well as a more detailed account of Campbell's family's emotional statement, giving the story a somewhat broader human-interest framing. ABC Australia focused more closely on the coroner's specific findings and legal language without referencing the rape charges.
What different sources said
- ABC AustraliaCenter
Rosemarie Campbell's family responds to damning inquest findings
- Sydney Morning HeraldCenter
Coroner raises questions after patient’s death
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