Adjudication No. 1035 (June 1999) [1999] APC 29

ADJUDICATION No. 1035 (June 1999)

The Australian Press Council has dismissed a complaint from Dr Stephen Rosenman against a report published by the Canberra Times 29 March 1999.

The report headed, "ACT Mental Health rejects care criticism", displayed a photograph of Dr Rosenman and summarised responses from the ACT Mental Health Services to criticism raised on some issues by the coroner, Mr Somes, into the death of Shannon Camden.

Mr Camden, a prisoner at risk, was found hanging in his cell on 15 April 1996. In part the Mental Health Services stated that Mr Camden had been assessed by Dr Rosenman, its then director, and others some six weeks prior to his suicide. They said Dr Rosenman was correct in his assessment which was reported in the newspaper.

Dr Rosenman said that he had "no objection to the content of the article". He considered it a "fair" report of the available material. However the nub of his complaint was that the publication of his photograph with the caption, "Dr Rosenman: assessed man as not having a psychiatric illness", suggests a particular responsibility for the fatal outcome.

Dr Rosenman claimed that comments from colleagues, patients and others confirmed that the article affected his professional standing.

In reply the newspaper stated that the release of the Mental Health Service response to the Coroner was a fresh development which they were legitimately following up. The service did reject criticism of their organisation and the heading reflected the content of the article.

The use of his photograph drew attention to Dr Rosenman. It is true that, at the time in question, he was the director of Mental Health Services and had been one of those responsible for assessing Mr Camden's mental health. The Council believes the picture caption could have been better phrased but the article makes clear Dr Rosenman's role in this matter.

A succinct letter to the newspaper from Dr Rosenman, if published, could have clarified his areas of concern.