David Thomas McDonald: Man pleads guilty to threatening to kill Rockingham General Hospital staff and families

A 38-year-old man has pleaded guilty to making threats to kill Rockingham General Hospital staff and their families. David Thomas McDonald, 38, appeared before Rockingham Magistrates Court on Wednesday charged with one count of disorderly behaviour in public. Prosecutor Jessica Anderson told the court McDonald was waiting to be seen at the hospital’s emergency department in the early hours of the morning on August 18. McDonald became frustrated with staff after being told repeatedly that he would need to wait to receive treatment. Not long after, McDonald began swearing at staff and threatened to kill hospital staff and their family members. Staff attempted to calm him down, but he continued yelling profanities and displaying unruly behaviour in the waiting area. He then punched a glass window and was removed from the hospital by security when he continued to yell abuse at staff. He accused staff of malpractice and said they “had to f***ing treat him”. There were 10 witnesses to the incident. Rockingham police were called and McDonald was taken into custody. When asked what led to the incident, McDonald said he “was getting a little bit annoyed after having waited eight hours” for a mental health check. “Having the entire Rockingham police force come to the hospital when I am mentally ill didn’t seem necessary,” he told the court. McDonald was fined $500 and ordered to pay $137 in court costs. Lifeline 13 11 14