1m ago07.19 BST
Refusal of medical treatment
Beale begins by outlining the evidence about Patterson refusing medical treatment.
He says Simon testified that Patterson had a history of discharging herself from hospitals against medical advice.
Dr Chris Webster when Patterson arrived at Leongatha hospital her told her she had been exposed to a potentially lethal poisoning when she presented at Leongatha hospital, the court hears. Nurse Kylie Ashton testified that she tried to convince Patterson to stay at the hospital to be medically assessed, warning “her life was at risk”. Dr Veronica Foote recalled Patterson saying if she was going to be admitted she needed to return home first.
Patterson told the jury that when she arrived at Leongatha hospital Dr Webster told her there was a concern she had been exposed to death cap mushroom poisoning.
Patterson said she was confused as she could not understand why death cap mushrooms would be in the meal.
She said she arrived expecting to be at the hospital for a few hours, the court hears.
Patterson disputed Ashton’s evidence that she told the accused her life was at risk.
Beale says the prosecution argued Patterson discharged herself because she knew she was not unwell.
The defence said a reasonable explanation of Patterson’s conduct was because she had not come prepared to be admitted overnight, needed to make arrangements for her children and pets and had not been told the full picture about the guests’ illness.
The defence also said her conduct needed to be viewed in the context of her habit of discharging herself against medical advice.
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