Andre was admitted to hospital with schizophrenia. So why was he moved to a non-secure ward?

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The family of a young Perth man who fell to his death from a hospital balcony want to know why doctors prioritised treating his tonsillitis over his schizophrenic episode, which led to the 32-year-old being cared for on a non-secure ward.

Andre Di Biase died at Royal Perth Hospital on May 8, 2023, after being admitted as an involuntary patient under the Mental Health Act 10 days earlier.

The family of Andre Di Biase (left) hope a coronial inquest will give them answers over his death at Royal Perth Hospital

The intelligent, much-loved son and brother was studying law until his mental health began to decline in 2010. He was diagnosed with schizophrenia and hospitalised for his first of multiple psychotic episodes in 2017.

In April 2023, he was admitted as an involuntary patient after it was suspected he had stopped taking his medication. During his first day in hospital, he assaulted a security guard and attempted to self-harm while in a secure mental health ward.

A few days later, he had a high fever and sore throat, and was diagnosed with tonsillitis.

His doctors decided to transfer him to a general ward so it would be easier to administer antibiotics for his infection. It was arranged he would have one-on-one care during his time on the ward, which was on the ninth floor of the hospital.

During his stay, he was initially reported that he was feeling settled, but guarded.

Two nights later, he stayed up all night in the corridor punching objects and refusing to go to bed. He told staff he was “seeing and hearing things”.

Later, when back in his room, it was noted he was fixated on the window. While his one-on-one nurse was taking a break, another nurse was sitting in when Di Biase started rearranging furniture in the room, telling the nurse he wanted to make space to do a handstand.

He then smashed through the window glass and climbed through it, cutting himself, to get to the balcony.

An inquest into his death, starting on Monday in the Coroner’s Court, is set to examine whether the supervision, treatment and care provided to him was of an appropriate standard.

Di Biase’s sister Natasha said the family wanted to know why he was moved into a non-secure ward.

“We want to understand what sort of risk assessment was undertaken to move Andre in the first place to that level nine ward, and why the treatment of the tonsillitis that he ended up getting took priority over his schizophrenia which he was admitted for,” she told 9News Perth.

“We’re interested to understand what the hospital has done since to actually change its policies and procedures.”

She described her brother as a kind and compassionate person who was always there for people.

“We used to joke that with his schizophrenia it actually became a bit of a superpower for him because he just had this ability to sit down with anyone from any walk of life and be able to connect and really listen and understand what that person was going through and try and offer some support or advice,” she said.

Di Biase’s inquest is being heard alongside the case of another Royal Perth Hospital patient’s death.

Bryan Dodd, 61, also smashed the window of his ward 9A room and fell to his death in September 2023, four months after Di Biase.

He had cancer and was admitted for chronic pain, and had recently been accepted to the voluntary assisted death scheme. He was refused discharge in the lead up to his death over concerns for the safety of his family members.

Support is available from Lifeline 13 11 14 and Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636.