Deceased
George Cameron
Demographics
81y, male
Date of death
2017-09-08
Finding date
2020-12-03
Cause of death
plastic bag asphyxia
AI-generated summary
George Cameron, an 81-year-old man, died by asphyxiation using a plastic bag while in custody at Parklea Correctional Centre on 8 September 2017. He had been remanded in custody three days earlier after arrest. A Reception Screening Assessment on arrival identified physical health issues warranting monitoring and a low Kessler psychological distress score (10-19), with no reported suicidal ideation. He was housed in a monitored cell in the clinic area. CCTV footage shows him placing a plastic bag over his head at approximately 11:04 a.m.; he was discovered by correctional staff at 11:42 a.m. and could not be revived. Clinical lessons include: the limitations of initial mental health screening in identifying acute suicide risk in newly remanded elderly prisoners; the importance of adequate CCTV visibility in all monitored areas including blind spots created by furniture; and the need for staff vigilance despite negative screening results, particularly in vulnerable populations.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Specialties
Clinical conditions
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