Inquest into the death of Richard Lewis
Deceased
Richard Lewis
Demographics
91y, male
Date of death
2015-04-19
Finding date
2018-07-11
Cause of death
complications of pneumonia
AI-generated summary
Richard Lewis, a 91-year-old man in custody, died of pneumonia complicated by underlying ischaemic heart disease and chronic lung disease. He was transferred from the Aged Care and Rehabilitation Unit at Long Bay Hospital to the Kevin Waller Unit on 23 February 2015. On 6 April, he presented with shortness of breath, malaise and productive cough, was readmitted to Long Bay Hospital, then transferred to Prince of Wales Hospital on 9 April where he deteriorated with evidence of acute myocardial damage and pulmonary oedema. He died on 19 April 2015. Expert respiratory physician assessment concluded the pneumonia was community-acquired pneumococcal infection unrelated to accommodation conditions, likely aspiration from nasopharyngeal carriage or person-to-person contact. The coroner found no deficiencies in care by Corrective Services or Justice Health and concluded nothing could reasonably have prevented his death given his age and rapid deterioration.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Clinical conditions
Procedures
Contributing factors
- atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease
- chronic lung disease
- age 91 years
- ischaemic heart disease with heart failure
- acute myocardial damage evidenced by troponin leak
- pulmonary oedema
- cardiac arrhythmia
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