An emotional courtroom has heard from family and friends of Ricky 'Dougie' Hampson Jr, with his eldest daughter telling the inquest there was "nothing in the world he wouldn't have done for us."
Mr Hampson Jr, a 36-year-old Kamilaroi-Dunghutti man, died in 2021 in the aftermath of being misdiagnosed at Dubbo hospital with a drug-induced syndrome. Less than 24 hours after being discharged from the hospital with over-the-counter painkillers, he died on his friend's couch from two perforated duodenal ulcers.
The inquest before Deputy State Coroner Erin Kennedy is being asked to consider whether factors such as bias and racism played a role in his medical treatment.
On Thursday, the inquest heard from members of Mr Hampson Jr's family, who have filled the courtroom in Dubbo daily, many wearing shirts emblazoned with his image and the slogan "Justice for Dougie".
His eight children and sole grandchild addressed the court to share some of their favourite memories of their father and grandfather.
"There's nothing in the world he wouldn't have done for us," they said.
"There was no one in the world more loving than our father.
"Each and every one of our hearts still aches for the loss of him. Sleepless nights and restless days have become such a regular thing.
"Our rock who kept everything together is no longer with us…no longer there to protect us."
They said the family were "grateful" for any apology given during the inquest, but closure for their father's death was hard to attain.
"One thing our father was known for was never to live with hate; never to live in the past," they said.
The inquest was shown a slideshow of Mr Hampson Jr's life, showing him playing as a child, playing in the sprinkler and smiling at Christmas. It moved to images of him as a father, holding his children; laughing and smiling.
The slideshow then closed with a CCTV image from Dubbo hospital, of Mr Hampson Jr clutching a water bottle.
Mr Hampson Jr's father, Rick Hampson, said as a child, his son would always encourage other children to play sport, and many people - including local shop owners - still describe themselves as "Dougie's mate".
"They were all touched by this amazing young man, and they still love him now and support us today through these horrific times," Mr Hampson said.
He described the hurt his family have been through since his son's passing.
"Since the 16th of August 2021, we have never been the same," he said.
"Speaking for myself, the last two-and-a-half years have been hell. I can't accept he's no longer with us. I never got to say goodbye, nor see my son before burial.
"We are so angry and devastated, but what we have heard in this inquest is that Dougie was probably in shock by the time he was discharged and dying from two completely repairable perforated ulcers."
The inquest has heard emergency doctor Sokol Nushaj misdiagnosed Mr Hampson Jr with cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS), which he blamed on "cognitive bias." The disorder can be found in long-term users of cannabis and displays symptoms of nausea and vomiting, both of which Mr Hampson did not have.
Mr Hampson Jr's sister, Anita Chatfield, told the inquest his passing had robbed her of the "joys of everyday life".
"When my youngest was eight, after losing Doug, he asked: 'If I go to hospital, will they save me?' No child deserves to have these feelings," Ms Chatfield said.
"He [Dougie]was meant to walk into the Dreamtime as an aged and frail man, warm in his bed, surrounded by his loved ones, leaving behind a lifetime of memories and happy times.
"Instead, he was a young man and died alone in unimaginable pain and suffering because of a system that failed him."
The inquest previously heard from an Indigenous doctor at Dubbo hospital who described the experience of Indigenous patients' open fear of the medical system. He said there remained a lack of understanding and awareness by medical professionals of what it means when an Indigenous person presented to a hospital.
Evidence presented to the inquest heard Mr Hampson Jr himself was "scared" of hospitals.
Rick Hampson Snr. said his people live in fear of hospitals due to the history - and the continued mistreatment - of First Nations people in this country. "
"We have this fear because of what hospitals and other institutions have, and continue to create…Because we get mistreated, because we get racially profiled, and because our symptoms of pain are never taken seriously," he said.
Ms Chatfield told the inquest her fear after her brother's death means she often delayed medical treatment for long periods in order to avoid interactions with the medical system.
"I leave things a long time before I seek medical assistance out of fear for my safety," she said. "I fear that if Doug's case can be so extreme; his case goes through so many hands and goes unnoticed, what's going to happen to me?"
"He was a young man who died alone in unimaginable pain…because of a system that failed him.
"But at the end of all of this, the inquest and everything, I won't let my brother be a statistic."
The inquest continues.
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