Coroner's Finding: SHIRRA James Angus
Deceased
James Angus Shirra
Demographics
83y, male
Date of death
2013-09-22
Finding date
2015-12-09
Cause of death
end stage Alzheimer's disease (dementia)
AI-generated summary
An 83-year-old man with end-stage Alzheimer's disease died at a nursing home where he had resided since 2011. He was subject to guardianship orders including detention powers under section 32 of the Guardianship and Administration Act. The coroner found his death was from natural causes (dementia) with no evidence of improper care or adverse circumstances. The coroner criticised the mandatory inquest requirement, noting these deaths from natural causes in aged persons with dementia are resource-intensive but typically uneventful. The coroner recommended discretionary rather than mandatory inquests for section 32 detention deaths, particularly when the death results from predictable disease progression.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Clinical conditions
Contributing factors
- advanced age
- progressive cognitive decline
- cessation of oral intake
Coroner's recommendations
- Draw the matter to the attention of the Attorney General regarding the resource implications of mandatory inquests for section 32 detention deaths; recommend that discretion be given to the State Coroner to hold inquests only when necessary or desirable, rather than as mandatory proceedings, for deaths of aged persons with dementia who die of natural causes whilst subject to section 32 detention orders
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