Relevant legislation | Responsibility | Who must be notified | How to notify | Forms | More information

The following deaths must be reported to the Executive Director, Public Health:

• When any person dies within a period of 48 hours following the administration of an anaesthetic agent.
• When any person dies as the result of any complications arising from the administration of an anaesthetic.
• When any medical practitioner is of the opinion that the anaesthesia or administration of an anaesthetic may reasonably be suspected as the cause of death or as contributing to the cause of death.

Relevant legislation

The statutory requirement to notify deaths of persons under anaesthetic is specified in Section 336B of the Health Act 1911 (Part XIII).

Responsibility for notification

• The person who administered the anaesthetic to the deceased; or
• Any medical practitioner who forms the opinion that anaesthesia or the administration of an anaesthetic may reasonably be suspected as the cause of death or as contributing to the cause of death of that person.

Who must be notified

Under the Health Act 1911, the Executive Director, Public Health must be notified.

How to notify

A report protocol is available on the Anaesthesia Western Australia website (under the Anaesthesia Mortality Committee section).

Notification is due:

As soon as possible.

Notification should be made to:

Executive Director, Public Health 
Regulatory Support Unit 
Public Health Division
Department of Health

PO Box 8172
Perth Business Centre WA 6849

For more information regarding notification of anaesthetic-related deaths

Contact (08) 9222 2295.

For data relating to this issue contact the Manager, Maternal and Child Unit, Health Data Collections, Data Integrity, Department of Health on (08) 9222 4262.