Australian actress Madeleine West has led public uproar over reports that ‘mushroom chef’ triple murderer Erin Patterson has been prescribed taxpayer-funded Ozempic weight loss injections while behind bars.
Mother-of-two Patterson, 51, is serving her original jail sentence at Melbourne‘s notorious Dame Phyllis Frost Centre while awaiting the outcome of an appeal.
She was sentenced to a minimum non-parole period of 33 years over the deaths of three family members who consumed death cap mushrooms served in beef Wellingtons at her Leongatha home in Victoria’s Gippsland region in July 2023.
Patterson was found guilty of murdering her in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson, as well as Gail’s sister, Heather Wilkinson.
Heather’s husband, Ian Wilkinson, survived after becoming critically ill. Patterson was also convicted of his attempted murder.
Patterson is being held in solitary confinement for at least 22 hours a day at the maximum-security prison.
However, it was revealed on Tuesday morning that the self-confessed binge eater was recently approved to receive weight loss drug Ozempic, reportedly because she is ‘isolated and unable to exercise’.
‘Staff safety is a huge concern, yet management appear more concerned about the weight of a convicted killer,’ an upset prison source told the Herald Sun.
Triple murderer Erin Patterson has been prescribed taxpayer-funded Ozempic weight loss injections while behind bars
Australian actress Madeleine West has led a barrage of public outrage at the news
The news has sparked outrage among Australian taxpayers footing the bill, prompting former Neighbours star West to weigh in.
‘This is Australia,’ she captioned a screenshot of a news article, along with an angry face emoji.
‘While Australian families are doing it tough, convicted murderers are getting taxpayer-funded cosmetic medication and convicted child predators are getting NDIS funding.’
The weight loss jab costs $134-a-month but is heavily subsidised under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme for eligible patients with type 2 diabetes, reducing the cost to just $25.
Unsubsidised weight loss jabs such as Mounjaro cost anywhere from $285 to $700 per month, depending on the prescribed dose.
According to the Department of Justice and Community Safety, inmates’ access to weight loss drugs is based on medical advice from a doctor.
‘Prescriptions are only given by clinicians when there’s a clear medical need – like preventing serious conditions such as type 2 diabetes,’ a spokesperson said.
During her 11-week trial, Patterson opened up about her long struggle with binge eating and body image issues from a young age.
During her 11-week trial, Patterson opened up about her long struggle with binge eating and body image issues from a young age
Patterson’s in-laws Don and Gail Patterson died after consuming death cap mushrooms served in beef Wellingtons at her Leongatha home
Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson also died following the lunch. Her husband, Pastor Ian Wilkinson survived
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The details emerged while she was explaining why she ate several pieces of cake following the fatal lunch before later vomiting.
Patterson, who has always maintained her innocence, is waiting to hear whether she will be granted a retrial.
She appealed her conviction on seven grounds at a recent Court of Appeal hearing, including what she claimed was a ‘substantial miscarriage of justice’ during the 11-week trial.
One of her appeal grounds is that she was forced to give evidence at trial because the trial judge excluded mushroom photos.
The Director of Public Prosecutions also appealed the length of Patterson’s sentence, arguing it was ‘manifestly inadequate.’
They want a full life sentence without any possibility of release.
Justices Stephen McLeish, Lesley Taylor and Peter Kidd will hand down their decision on the two appeals at a later date.
Patterson is not the first convicted murderer to be approved for Ozempic while behind bars.
Alicia Schiller is serving 16 years after killing housemate and mother-of-three Tyrelle Evertsen-Mostert, 31, in a drug-fuelled rage in Geelong, Victoria, on November 9, 2014.
Convicted murderer Alicia Schiller has also been given permission to receive taxpayer-funded Ozempic jabs while in prison
Schiller has been given Ozempic by her prison doctor after gaining weight while behind bars, and has undergone eyelid surgery to remove excess skin.
It follows reports that Schiller had turned her prison cell into a ‘candy shop’ and frequently ate ‘lollies, chips, chocolate and soft drinks’.
Her victim’s mother branded the news as ‘absolutely ridiculous’ and a waste of taxpayers’ money.
‘Why bother giving her Ozempic? She’s got to get off that stuff on her own,’ Jo Evertsen-Mostert said.
‘If she wants Ozempic, ban her from all her sweets. Do that first for a year and see how she goes.
‘She was big when she went in, she can be big when she comes out.’
Minister Nick Staikos previously defended the use of weight loss injections for inmates to prevent serious illness.
‘I’m not generally someone who has sympathy for people who commit terrible crimes, but what I would say is this: these are decisions made by clinicians,’ he said.
‘Prevention and preventing serious illness, actually will save the taxpayer in the long run.’
