Effect of HIV drugs questioned

The effect of drugs, being taken to treat HIV, on the ability of a South African woman, who died last year on a North Otago dairy farm, to do her job will be looked into by southern region coroner David Crerar.

An inquest was held in Oamaru yesterday into the death of Priscillar Yoland Mbatha (37) who died when the four-wheel-drive motorcycle she was riding overturned on a Papakaio dairy farm on November 1.

After the accident, fears were raised by people who attempted to revive Ms Mbatha when they learned she was taking antiviral drugs for HIV.

The drugs were discovered when farm manager Tony Lauren was sorting Ms Mbatha's personal effects.

A label said the antiviral drug could cause drowsiness and Mr Lauren was worried about whether this could have had an effect on the accident.

Yesterday, Mr Lauren raised that during the inquest.

Mr Lauren asked if there was any evidence or recommendation the coroner might make now it was known the antiviral drug Ms Mbatha was taking could cause drowsiness.

Employees were not required to notify employers of HIV, but Mr Lauren questioned whether they should be required to tell employers if they were taking drugs for an illness or disease which could make them drowsy and affect their ability to operate machinery.

He was worried that, in those instances, other people could be put in harm's way.

Mr Crerar said it was a very good point, which had not been in pre-inquest papers he had been given.

Yesterday, he made a preliminary finding on Ms Mbatha's death, but said he intended to make inquiries about the points raised by Mr Lauren and would have an answer when he released his formal finding.

While people were not required to tell employers about an illness such as HIV, Mr Crerar agreed if an employee was taking drugs for a medical condition that could affect their safety, then employers should be told.

He would look at a method to achieve that in the future.

Evidence into the death was given by Mr Lauren, farm employee Phillip McLaughlin and Department of Labour health and safety inspector Kevin Masters.

Mr Masters said the motorbike ridden by Ms Mbatha had undergone a scheduled service before the accident, but faults were found with brake performance, rear tyres and steering.

Ms Mbatha had undertaken no professional training to ride an ATV, but it had been offered and declined on three occasions.

A protective helmet was available, but she chose not to wear it.