Coroner's Finding: KELBIN William Thomas
Deceased
William Thomas Kelbin
Demographics
81y, male
Date of death
2012-12-28
Finding date
2017-08-25
Cause of death
gastrointestinal haemorrhage and multi-organ failure on a background of severe dementia
AI-generated summary
William Thomas Kelbin, aged 81, died from gastrointestinal haemorrhage and multi-organ failure on a background of severe dementia. He had been placed under guardianship with detention powers after becoming unable to self-care at home following hip replacement surgery. Despite efforts to manage his care in hospital, he refused investigation and treatment including endoscopy. His declining physical health, weight loss, anaemia, cardiac failure, and swallowing difficulties progressed to multi-organ failure. The coroner found his detention lawful and that custodial circumstances did not contribute to death. Clinically, earlier aggressive intervention for gastrointestinal bleeding and closer monitoring of deterioration might have altered outcomes, though his severe dementia, refusal of investigations, and cardiac comorbidities complicated management.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Contributing factors
- severe dementia with lack of insight and capacity
- refusal of investigations including endoscopy
- severe cardiac failure limiting investigation options
- significant weight loss and malnutrition
- anaemia from gastrointestinal blood loss
- swallowing difficulties
- patient non-compliance and resistance to treatment
- aggressive and disruptive behaviour complicating care
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