Inquest into the death of Jessica Poulson
Deceased
Jessica Agnes Poulson
Demographics
0y, female
Date of death
2017-04-28
Finding date
2018-11-26
Cause of death
Hypoplastic left heart syndrome
AI-generated summary
Jessica Agnes Poulson was a 17-day-old neonate born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a fatal congenital condition requiring emergency surgery unavailable in the Northern Territory. The parents elected palliative care, supported by paediatric consultants who advised allowing natural death. Jessica was admitted to special care and received appropriate comfort care including oral analgesia and intravenous morphine for symptom management. The coroner found care standards were high throughout her short life. Primary challenges involved managing the mother's difficulty accepting Jessica's terminal prognosis and coordinating care between the hospital, Territory Families, and the family. Communication and support efforts by hospital staff and government agencies were extensive. This death was expected and inevitable from diagnosis; all clinical management was appropriate and aligned with family values and expert medical opinion.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Drugs involved
Clinical conditions
Procedures
Contributing factors
- Congenital heart defect incompatible with life without emergency surgery
- Surgical intervention unavailable in Northern Territory
- Mother's difficulty accepting terminal prognosis
- Maternal capacity concerns requiring guardianship order
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