ABC doctor Norman Swan has apologised for his comments over Labor senator Kimberley Kitching,who died earlier this year.
However,it was never reported that Kitching had contracted the virus before she died,and Swan accepted that she had not after a phone call with her widower Andrew Landeryou,who had texted Swan to complain.
“I apologised profusely,” Swan told this masthead. “We had an amicable conversation. Clearly he was very upset. And I was devastated that it had that impact on the family. I didn’t say[it] casually,and if I thought it would hurt either family,I wouldn’t have said it.”
Swan also apologised on air on Wednesday. In a statement,an ABC spokesperson noted the apology and said:“Dr Swan has had discussions with ABC management about the comments. He understands the comments did not meet the ABC’s editorial standards.”
ABC chair Ita Buttrose,who has previously called Swan a “treasure”,did not respond to requests for comment.
The incident is the latest in a number of controversial statements about COVID-19 by Swan,who became a key figure in Australia’s understanding of the pandemic through his television and radio appearances and daily podcast produced by the national broadcaster.
Swan also argued that while Warne had risk factors for heart attack (he was known to have an unhealthy diet at times),COVID could still have been at fault,tellingDaily Mail Australia extra inflammation “could have tipped him over the edge”. No one close to Warne who was contacted by this masthead wished to comment.
But Dr Swan has stood by his remarks regarding the late Shane Warne,who at times had an unhealthy lifestyle.Credit:AP