Deceased
Matthew John Liddell
Demographics
28y, male
Coroner
Clements
Date of death
2003-11-24
Finding date
2007-06-20
Cause of death
hypoxic encephalopathy secondary to hanging
AI-generated summary
Matthew Liddell, a 28-year-old former Navy serviceman with severe post-traumatic stress disorder and depression following the 1998 HMAS Westralia fire, died by hanging in a psychiatric hospital. He had been admitted on 8 November 2003 after separation from his de facto wife triggered acute deterioration. He was discharged on weekend leave on 21 November and returned early on 22 November distressed about police investigation into domestic violence proceedings. Nursing staff appropriately assessed him, noted his anger had settled, and observed him socialising that evening appearing calm and cheerful. He took sleeping medication at 12:40am and was found hanging at 1:05am. The coroner found no evidence that his psychiatrist should have been called, that more frequent observations were warranted based on his presentation, or that the hospital's safety procedures were inadequate. The case highlights the difficulty of predicting suicide in open psychiatric units and the importance of family-hospital communication.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes. Report an inaccuracy.
Specialties
Drugs involved
Clinical conditions
Procedures
18y · Female·Mixed drug toxicity
Tiesha Marie Derbyshire, an 18-year-old with complex mental health conditions including eating disorder, PTSD, and borderline personality disorder, died from mixed drug toxicity after intentionally overdosing on proprano…
32y · Female·Hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy due to hanging
Chloe Jane Campbell, aged 32, died by suicide while an involuntary inpatient with borderline personality disorder, complex PTSD, and chronic suicidal ideation. She was admitted 18-30 April 2019 after ceasing medications …
44y · Male·Cardiac arrhythmia during physical restraint
Taare Rangi, a 44-year-old man with bipolar affective disorder, died from cardiac arrhythmia during physical restraint in a mental health unit. Critical failures occurred at multiple levels: (1) the decision to acutely s…
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