Coronial
QLDhospital

Skilton, Robert Douglas

Deceased

Robert Douglas Skilton

Demographics

73y, male

Coroner

Ryan

Date of death

2018-04-29

Finding date

2019-12-05

Cause of death

Lung cancer (squamous cell carcinoma)

AI-generated summary

Robert Skilton, aged 73, died of advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the lung while in prison custody. He had a 59-year smoking history and consistently declined medical care throughout 43 years of incarceration, with up to 5-year gaps between appointments. A trade instructor persuaded him to see a doctor in April 2018 when respiratory symptoms developed. Dr Janssens appropriately diagnosed advanced lung malignancy and referred him to hospital. An administrative delay of 9 days in processing imaging did not affect outcome. At Princess Alexandra Hospital, palliative care was promptly engaged with bronchoscopy confirming terminal squamous cell carcinoma. The coroner found no missed diagnostic opportunities, no outcome-changing delays, and that medical care met community standards. Management aligned with the patient's documented wishes for comfort-focused end-of-life care.

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

Specialties

respiratory medicineoncologypalliative careemergency medicinecorrectional health

Error types

system

Drugs involved

morphinemidazolammetoclopramidedigoxinantibiotics

Clinical conditions

squamous cell carcinoma of lungadvanced pulmonary malignancychronic obstructive pulmonary diseaserespiratory distresstachyarrhythmiahypoxaemia

Procedures

chest X-rayCT scanbronchoscopybiopsy

Contributing factors

  • 59-year smoking history
  • long-standing avoidance of medical care and screening
  • delayed presentation with advanced disease
  • 9-day administrative delay in processing imaging referral
Full text

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