Coronial
NSWhospital

Inquest into the death of Francis Sawle

Deceased

Francis Sawle

Demographics

82y, male

Date of death

2019-02-13

Finding date

2020-02-12

Cause of death

Acute myocardial infarction caused by ischaemic heart disease

AI-generated summary

Francis Sawle, an 82-year-old man in custody, died of acute myocardial infarction due to ischaemic heart disease while an inpatient at Prince of Wales Hospital. He had significant comorbidities including severe triple vessel disease, chronic renal impairment, interstitial lung disease, and Alzheimer's disease. An Advanced Care Directive establishing a non-resuscitation plan was appropriately documented. The coroner found that medical care was appropriate throughout his custody and hospitalisation. The death followed a cardiac event during a planned investigation for suspected renal cell carcinoma, with transfer to palliative care after assessment determined he was not a candidate for surgical intervention. No procedural, diagnostic, or communication failures were identified in his care.

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

Contributing factors

  • severe triple vessel coronary artery disease
  • chronic renal impairment
  • interstitial lung disease with pneumonia
  • advanced age
  • multiple comorbidities including Alzheimer's disease
  • prior history of smoking and heavy alcohol use
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