Ambulance Officer Testifies in Inquest into Death of 95-Year-Old Woman
A senior officer from New South Wales (NSW) Ambulance has given evidence at an inquest into the death of Clare Nowland. Mrs. Nowland was a 95-year-old woman who died in 2023 after being tasered by a police officer in an aged-care home. The inquest is investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident to determine if it could have been avoided.
During the hearing, the ambulance officer suggested that emergency services might have rushed the situation. He told the court that there was no immediate danger to others and that the responders could have taken more time to manage the incident. Mrs. Nowland, who had dementia, was carrying a steak knife at the time, but her slow movement meant there was an opportunity to slow down the response.
The inquest also heard about the challenges of dealing with patients who have dementia. Experts are looking at whether the police and paramedics followed the correct procedures for someone in Mrs. Nowland's condition. The officer noted that in such cases, patience and communication are often better tools than physical force.
The death of the great-grandmother caused a public outcry across Australia and led to calls for better training for police when dealing with the elderly. The inquest will continue this week as more witnesses are called to speak. The final report will help decide if any changes are needed in how emergency services respond to similar calls in the future.