Deceased
Jacqueline Moyra Wood
Demographics
17y, female
Date of death
2002-06-09
Finding date
2008-01-02
Cause of death
raised intracranial pressure due to hepatic encephalopathy related cerebral oedema from fulminant liver failure secondary to paracetamol overdose
AI-generated summary
Jacqueline Wood, aged 17, died from hepatic encephalopathy-related cerebral oedema following fulminant liver failure caused by paracetamol overdose. She ingested approximately 90 paracetamol tablets on 3 June 2002 but did not disclose this during her first hospital admission for vomiting and suspected gastroenteritis. Early clinical presentation mimicked infectious gastroenteritis with seizure-like symptoms; paracetamol toxicity was not suspected without disclosure of ingestion. The coroner found the death resulted from overwhelming psychosocial pressures, particularly family coercion regarding allegations of sexual abuse she had made, combined with her intellectual disability, epilepsy history, and past trauma. No criticism was directed at healthcare workers; the death could not have been predicted despite available support structures. Key lesson: paracetamol overdose presents with non-specific gastrointestinal symptoms; active enquiry about deliberate self-harm or ingestion is essential in young people presenting with vomiting, and high index of suspicion warranted when liver function deteriorates unexpectedly.
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Specialties
Error types
Drugs involved
Clinical conditions
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