Outrage as Erin Patterson Gets Taxpayer-Funded Ozempic

Australian actress Madeleine West has joined a wave of public anger following reports that convicted “mushroom chef” triple murderer Erin Patterson has been receiving taxpayer-funded Ozempic weight-loss injections in prison.

Patterson, a 51-year-old mother of two, is currently being held at Melbourne’s high-security Dame Phyllis Frost Centre as she waits for the result of an appeal against her conviction and sentence.

She was handed a minimum non-parole period of 33 years after three relatives died from eating death cap mushrooms hidden in beef Wellingtons served at her home in Leongatha, in Victoria’s Gippsland region, in July 2023.

A jury found Patterson guilty of murdering her former in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson, along with Gail’s sister, Heather Wilkinson.

Heather’s husband, Ian Wilkinson, was left fighting for life but survived the poisoned meal. Patterson was also convicted of attempting to murder him.

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.

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.’ 

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.

The details emerged while she was explaining why she ate several pieces of cake following the fatal lunch, before later vomiting.

Patterson 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.

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.’