Deceased
Philip William Walker
Demographics
77y, male
Coroner
Decision ofDeputy State Coroner Pearce
Date of death
2024-02-09
Finding date
2025-06-17
Cause of death
Aspiration pneumonia complicating retropharyngeal plasmacytoma, cervical myelopathy, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and atrial fibrillation
AI-generated summary
Philip Walker, 77, died of aspiration pneumonia complicating retropharyngeal plasmacytoma, cervical myelopathy, COPD and atrial fibrillation while in prison custody. He had complex medical needs including dysphagia from previous oropharyngeal cancer treatment, requiring nasogastric feeds and specialised care at Long Bay Hospital. On 6 February 2024, he was appropriately transferred to Prince of Wales Hospital after vomiting and became hypoxic with aspiration pneumonia. Despite IV antibiotics and oxygen, his condition deteriorated. He declined further investigations or treatment on 8 February and was transitioned to comfort care, dying 9 February. The coroner found appropriate medical care was provided throughout, with no evidence that any action could have altered the outcome. The death resulted from natural disease progression in an elderly, frail man with multiple comorbidities.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes. Report an inaccuracy.
Specialties
Clinical conditions
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