Two members of the same family — Denise (2023) and Margaret (2025) — died alone after missing medical appointments where no follow‑up call, welfare check, or escalation protocol was initiated. Both were high‑risk patients with clear clinical vulnerabilities. Both deaths were preventable.
These cases occurred two years apart, under different clinics, yet the failures were identical. This demonstrates a systemic problem, not isolated error.
We are calling for urgent reform to ensure that high‑risk patients are never again left without basic duty‑of‑care protections.

Why This Matters

Across Australia, thousands of vulnerable patients rely on regular medical appointments for monitoring, medication management, and safety. When a high‑risk patient misses an appointment, it is often a sign of deterioration, crisis, or medical emergency.

Yet there is no mandatory requirement for clinics to:

• follow up missed appointments
• conduct welfare checks
• escalate concerns
• document attempts to contact the patient

This gap has already cost lives.

Denise and Margaret died under nearly identical circumstances because no one checked on them. Their deaths were not inevitable — they were preventable.

What We Are Asking For

We call on the Victorian Government, APHRA, and national health regulators to implement:

1. Mandatory follow‑up for high‑risk missed appointments

Clinics must contact high‑risk patients who miss scheduled appointments.

2. Welfare‑check triggers

If a high‑risk patient cannot be reached, a welfare check must be initiated.

3. Clear escalation pathways

Clinics must have documented procedures for missed appointments involving vulnerable patients.

4. Improved communication and documentation standards

All attempts to contact high‑risk patients must be recorded.

5. Coronial and regulatory review of systemic patterns

When multiple deaths occur in the same family or under similar circumstances, systemic issues must be investigated.

What Happened in Our Family

• Denise (2023) missed a GP appointment. No follow‑up call was made. She was found deceased after approximately two weeks.
• Margaret (2025) missed a medical appointment on the day she died. No follow‑up call or welfare check was made. She was found deceased at home.

Two preventable deaths.
Two missed opportunities.
One systemic failure.

Why Your Signature Matters

Your signature will help demonstrate public support for:

• stronger duty‑of‑care protections
• better safety standards for vulnerable patients
• accountability across clinics and regulatory bodies
• preventing further avoidable deaths

No family should experience what ours has endured.
No high‑risk patient should be left without follow‑up.
No preventable death should be dismissed as an isolated event.

Call to Action

Sign this petition to demand mandatory follow‑up protocols and welfare‑check requirements for high‑risk patients across Australia.

Together, we can prevent further avoidable deaths and ensure that vulnerable people receive the care and protection they deserve.

We also have a Victorian Parliament petition 

if you are from Victoria, Australia please sign and share 

https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/get-involved/petitions/duty-of-care-requirements-for-highrisk-patients-who-miss-medical-appointments2