Newman, Patricia Dell
Deceased
Patricia Dell Newman
Demographics
72y, female
Date of death
2006-03-29
Finding date
2007-12-20
Cause of death
Congestive cardiac failure due to or as a consequence of essential hypertension
AI-generated summary
Patricia Dell Newman, aged 72, was admitted to Rockhampton Base Hospital on 11 March 2006 with profound hypotension, acute renal failure, severe malnutrition, and multi-organ failure that had developed over weeks to months. Her presentation masked significant clinical illness. The coroner found she received extensive appropriate investigations and satisfactory clinical care. Family concerns about communication and alleged inappropriate comments regarding ICU costs were investigated but not substantiated. The coroner found no evidence of improper clinical decision-making or system failures. Key lesson: clinicians should recognise that seriously ill patients may not appear obviously unwell on initial assessment. Communication with distressed families about prognosis should be clear, empathetic, and offer accessible pathways for clarification.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Error types
Contributing factors
- Multi-organ failure
- Acute renal failure
- Essential hypertension
- Severe malnutrition
- Prolonged underlying illness (weeks to months)
- Sepsis
- Meige's Syndrome
Coroner's recommendations
- Queensland Health should consider developing a brochure for family members provided when important information about prognosis and treatment of gravely ill patients is being given, setting out how to obtain additional or clearer information with relevant contact numbers
- Health professionals should make every effort to ensure that people understand the information being given to them about patient prognosis and treatment
- Family members should be encouraged to seek clarification of information they do not understand, potentially through hospital social workers or further discussion with clinicians
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