Coronial
NSWhome

Inquest into the death of Kimberley APPLEBY

Deceased

Kimberley Cherie Appleby

Demographics

56y, female

Coroner

Decision ofDeputy State Coroner Baptie

Date of death

2016-05-27

Finding date

2021-07-07

Cause of death

acute pentobarbitone toxicity

AI-generated summary

56-year-old woman died from acute pentobarbitone toxicity in her Sydney apartment on 27-28 May 2016. She had a long history of mental health issues, depression, substance use, and prior self-harm. She had recently obtained pentobarbitone from Mexico via internet, which her partner had previously confiscated. She had new financial and family stressors, and had made a new will days before death benefiting her partner. The coroner recorded an open finding. Key clinical lessons include: documentation of discussions with vulnerable patients about substance access; risk assessment in patients with chronic suicidality and recent stressors; examination of medication compliance and side-effects in depression treatment; and careful police investigation of ambiguous deaths to prevent evidence loss. The case highlights complexities in determining intentionality in deaths involving high-risk individuals with lifelong patterns of crisis behaviour and frequent suicide threats.

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

Specialties

psychiatrypsychologygeneral practicepathologyemergency medicine

Error types

systemprocedural

Drugs involved

pentobarbitonediazepamagomelatinequetiapineescitalopramolanzapinecocainecannabis

Clinical conditions

major depressive disordersevere chronic depressionanxiety disorderborderline personality disordersubstance use disorderinsomniaalcohol dependencepsychotic episode (brief, september 2015)suicidal ideationself-harm

Contributing factors

  • long history of mental health issues including major depressive disorder, anxiety, and borderline personality disorder
  • chronic suicidal ideation with prior attempts and self-harm
  • substance use disorder involving alcohol, cocaine, and benzodiazepines
  • recent financial stress related to property sale
  • environmental stressors including construction noise and demolition works near apartment
  • family relationship distress including conflict with parents and estrangement from daughter
  • poor medication compliance and side effects
  • access to pentobarbitone obtained from internet supplier in Mexico
  • recent psychiatric admission and discharge
  • interpersonal conflict with partner about rehabilitation attendance

Coroner's recommendations

  1. Refer the death of Kimberley Appleby to the Unsolved Homicide Unit of the NSW Police Homicide Squad for further investigation in accordance with the protocols and procedures of that Unit
  2. Provide a copy of the brief of evidence and transcript of the inquest to the Unsolved Homicide Team for investigation purposes
Full text
Official source Archived copy

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