Haynes, Barry
Deceased
Barry Haynes
Demographics
58y, male
Date of death
2017-04-03
Finding date
2020-11-16
Cause of death
Metastatic non-small cell lung carcinoma
AI-generated summary
Barry Haynes, a 58-year-old Aboriginal man, died of metastatic non-small cell lung carcinoma while on remand in custody. He had stage 4 lung cancer with brain metastases diagnosed in November 2016, shortly before his arrest for domestic violence offences. While in prison, he received appropriate palliative radiotherapy and pain management. The coroner found he received good medical care despite the inadequate prison palliative care environment. Key clinical lessons include: (1) the need for dedicated palliative care pathways in correctional facilities for terminally ill prisoners; (2) timely identification and formal appointment of substitute decision-makers for patients with impaired capacity due to intracranial metastases; and (3) systems to facilitate appropriate information-sharing with legal representatives and family. The lack of capacity assessment formality and delayed transfer to more suitable palliative facilities were identified as systemic issues rather than individual clinical failures.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Clinical conditions
Contributing factors
- advanced intracranial metastatic disease
- widespread metastases through liver, bones and lymphatics
- lack of dedicated palliative care facility in correctional centres
- delay in transfer to suitable palliative care setting
- impaired capacity not formally assessed or managed with substitute decision-maker
- prison environment inadequate for palliative care
- unresolved bail application before death
Coroner's recommendations
- Queensland Government publish a policy on provision of personal and health care for prisoners who are ageing and/or requiring palliative care, addressing: arrangements to support family contact with prisoners undergoing palliative care and at time of death (including circumstances in which restraints can be removed in secure hospital units), and consistency with National Palliative Care Standards
- QCS and Office of Prisoner Health and Wellbeing, in consultation with West Moreton Hospital and Health Service, Office of Public Advocate and Public Guardian: develop an agreed pathway for inclusion in COPD on Prisoners of Concern to ensure suitable substitute decision-makers are identified for prisoners with impaired capacity; review policies, procedures, training and resources for clinicians, administrative and correctional staff on information-sharing and release to substitute decision-makers for prisoners with impaired capacity; and consider training and appointment of suitably qualified persons within each correctional centre to support prisoners with impaired capacity to navigate health and justice systems
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