Coronial
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Inquest into the death of Penelope Ann BLUME

Deceased

Penelope Ann Blume

Demographics

68y, female

Coroner

Chief Coroner Theakston

Date of death

2019-03-15

Finding date

2019-12-10

Cause of death

Plastic bag asphyxia with vitiated atmosphere, with Motor Neuron Disease being a significant condition contributing to her death but not related to the disease or condition causing death

AI-generated summary

A 68-year-old woman with Motor Neuron Disease died from asphyxia on 15 March 2019. She had been diagnosed with MND in 2016 and experienced progressive disability requiring wheelchair use and assistance with activities of daily living. The deceased and her partner had discussed assisted dying over two years, researched options including relocation to jurisdictions permitting voluntary assisted dying, and decided together to hasten her death in December 2018. The coroner found the death was suicide. The coroner noted that family and friends were unable to spend time with the deceased partly due to her partner's arrest and charging; the coroner commented on the need to improve processes allowing families access to deceased persons once investigations are complete, and highlighted the restriction on ACT legislative assembly to make laws permitting voluntary assisted dying.

AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes. Report an inaccuracy.

Specialties

general practicepalliative carepathology

Clinical conditions

Motor Neuron Diseasechronic painprogressive neurological disabilityhypoxia

Contributing factors

  • Motor Neuron Disease with progressive disability
  • Significant pain requiring opioid analgesia
  • Declining mobility and functional capacity
  • Psychological distress from declining oxygen saturation levels
  • Lack of access to legal voluntary assisted dying in the ACT

Coroner's recommendations

  1. Improve processes to allow families and friends to spend time with deceased persons once all necessary investigations have been completed
  2. Enhance communication to families about their rights under the Coroners Act 1997, including rights to request to see the body and inspect the scene of death
  3. Update the ACT Coroner's Court website with more details for families and friends about the coronial process and their place in it
  4. Develop a fact sheet for families that Police can provide, setting out the range of rights and options families have in coronial matters
  5. Consider whether legislative change is appropriate regarding the restriction on the ACT Legislative Assembly's power to make laws permitting voluntary assisted dying
Full text
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Source and disclaimer

This page reproduces or summarises information from publicly available findings published by Australian coroners' courts. Coronial is an independent educational resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of any coronial court or government body.

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