Coroner's Finding: HOGAN Constance Mary
Deceased
Constance Mary Hogan
Demographics
73y, female
Date of death
2012-05-05
Finding date
2014-11-28
Cause of death
general inanition due to dysphagia on a background of multiple neurological and psychiatric diagnoses
AI-generated summary
A 73-year-old woman with bipolar disorder, alcohol abuse history, and multiple medical comorbidities presented with stroke-like symptoms in March 2012. Neuroimaging was unrevealing. She was detained under the Mental Health Act due to concerns about oral intake and anticipated non-cooperation with treatment. Despite appropriate supportive care including nasogastric feeding and intravenous hydration, she developed progressive neurological deterioration with dysphagia and eventually died from general inanition. The coroner found her treatment appropriate and detention lawful. Key lesson: complex neurological presentations with non-specific findings require multidisciplinary assessment; appropriate supportive care and family discussions regarding goals of care were evident in this case.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Clinical conditions
Contributing factors
- progressive neurological deterioration
- dysphagia
- inability to maintain oral intake
- undiagnosed or suspected degenerative neurological condition
- lung infection
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