Confidential

Verhoeven v Epworth HealthCare & Dr Michael V Piperoglou

Medical Negligence — Electroconvulsive Therapy — Claimant Brief — April 2026
Quantum
$7.5 – 10M
AUD estimated
Defendant
Epworth HealthCare
Insured institutional
Funder
Foris AG
Frankfurt Stock Exchange
Independent Review
Bill Madden
Carroll & O'Dea — 'may have merit'
Related Claims
Maurice Blackburn
TPD / Trauma ($1.92M indexed)
Limitation
Delayed discoverability
Addressed in Document 03
Terms Sought
NWNF + $10k advance
Respond within 36 hours
Your Exposure
30 minutes
Review, decide, respond

In August 2018, Patrick Verhoeven -- quantitative analyst, $250,000 per annum, WAIS-IV IQ of 121 -- underwent six ECT sessions at Epworth Hospital under Dr Michael Piperoglou. During Treatment 5, the Thymatron printout records 23 beats per minute. There is no documentation that this near-asystole event was recognised, responded to, or disclosed to the patient. Treatment 6 proceeded three days later. Epworth's own MR40H checklist confirms the consent form, anaesthetic charts, and clinical notes existed -- none were produced in response to a complete records request served January 2026. Mr Verhoeven is now on a Disability Support Pension, assessed at 0–7 hours work capacity per week; his GP places onset at 2019. Bill Madden (Carroll & O'Dea, co-author of Australian Medical Liability) has reviewed the materials and confirmed in writing the claim may have merit. Maurice Blackburn act on related insurance claims.

Document 01
Madden Briefing
Prepared for Bill Madden, Carroll & O'Dea. Three critical findings from the Thymatron data: 23 BPM bradycardia, energy escalation, seizure quality collapse.
Document 02
Clinical Chronology
Full duty-breach-causation chain. 23 BPM cardiac event, dose escalation, missing records, quantum. Supported by primary source exhibits below.
Document 03
Case Summary & Evidence Pack
Full legal assessment with six independent grounds of breach, causation analysis, quantum, and limitation.
Document 04
Draft Solicitor's Assessment for Foris AG
Pre-drafted for adoption on your letterhead. Review, amend, execute. Firm name and partner name fields marked for completion.
Exhibit A
Non-Clinical Medication Direction
June 2018. Third-party direction to cease effective ADHD treatment, initiating the pathway to ECT admission.
Exhibit B
Post-Discharge Planning Failure
August 2018 email requesting post-discharge plan. 'I am not aware of any plan being prepared.' Proves abandonment of care.
Exhibit C
Psychiatric Diagnosis Confirmation
Independent diagnostic confirmation establishing the conditions for which ECT was administered were mischaracterised or not present.
No-win-no-fee with a $10,000 advance to the claimant
All materials are prepared. The draft solicitor's assessment (Document 04) is pre-drafted for adoption on your letterhead. Foris AG has assessed the matter and is ready to fund. If you want to take this case on no-win-no-fee terms with a $10,000 advance to the claimant, respond below.
Reply to this brief
or call 0428 312 988
Response required within 36 hours of receipt