The Nursing and Midwifery Tribunal has again confirmed Ms Thompson had done nothing wrong despite an appeal against her by the Health Care Complaints Commission (HCCC).

The tribunal also awarded costs to Ms Thompson.

She had previously been cleared by a coronial inquest and the Professional Standards Committee of the NSW Health Professional Councils Authority.

The HCCC appealed that decision as well. Again, Ms Thompson was found to have done nothing wrong.

Dr Brendan Smith, who was chairman of the Bathurst Medical Staff Council at the time, yesterday said Ms Thompson had been “hung out to dry”.

He said the Bathurst Base Hospital anaesthetics department launched an inquiry following the young woman’s death and the actions of the theatre nurses had never been in question. 

He said it was quite clear they had done everything they should. So he was floored when Ms Thompson was singled out and pursued so vigorously. 

Dr Smith said despite the three hearings there are still questions that need answering.

“Let me be quite clear, the avoidable death of any patient is a tragedy,” Dr Smith said.

“We still do not know what exactly went wrong. Is it wrong to ask for answers after five years?

“On behalf of both shattered families, I believe we have a right to demand the truth, even now.”

Ms Thompson believes someone had to be made responsible and she was an easy target.

The 39-year-old yesterday said the victim’s family was at the forefront of her mind throughout the hearings.

“Once the legal process started my goal was to ensure the family knew I was not the cause of the death of their mother, their wife, their daughter,” she said.

“There were times I wanted to give up, but I couldn’t lay down and take it because then the truth would never be told.

“I have relived the 24th of June every single day since then. I don’t believe it will ever let me go.”

Ms Thompson said a team of people were involved in the young woman’s treatment. She said she still doesn’t understand how she became the main focus of subsequent events.

“I am so relieved that it’s over,” she said. “But now I am starting to get angry and, yes, bitter.

“This has affected my family, my marriage, my career and there was a huge financial cost as well.

“There were rumours going around the hospital and I think that instilled some doubt in people. It was tough.

“But I knew in myself I had done nothing wrong. I knew the truth would set me free in the end.”

Dr Smith said even before the coronial inquest, death threats were directed towards Ms Thompson from outside the hospital.

She took three months off because of the enormous toll it took on her health.

When she returned to Bathurst Base it was in an administrative role and now she has taken a community position.

She said when the tragedy happened her career was just starting to take off.

Now she can’t see herself ever returning to surgical nursing.

“I’ve lost my confidence. I’ve lost trust in the system,” Ms Thompson said.

“I have been so focused on that appeal, I haven’t thought about where I will go from here.”

Dr Smith said he doesn’t understand why someone didn’t put a stop to proceedings against Ms Thompson when it became clear at the coronial inquest that none of the nurses were to blame for the young mother’s death. 

“None of us here have any idea why Jane was singled out,” he said.

“A case was brought against someone else in relation to this, the HCCC had all that information, yet they still proceeded.”

Yesterday a spokesperson for the HCCC said the commissioner was prohibited from disclosing any other complaints.

Dr Smith said he had never seen such an obvious scapegoat in his life. He said the HCCC must do its duty and find out what went wrong. 

“We need to make sure this should never happen to another patient or staff member,” he said.