Coroner's Finding: WATSON James David
Deceased
James David Watson
Demographics
64y, male
Date of death
2016-01-30
Finding date
2019-05-14
Cause of death
respiratory failure and sepsis on a background of end-stage disseminated small cell lung cancer
AI-generated summary
A 64-year-old prisoner with end-stage disseminated small cell lung cancer died from respiratory failure and sepsis at Royal Adelaide Hospital. He had presented with collapse, fever, and hypotension in January 2016. Investigations revealed respiratory distress syndrome, fluid overload, and neutropenia. After informed discussion with his sister, the patient consented to a do-not-resuscitate order and was transferred to palliative care. He was managed with subcutaneous morphine and midazolam until death. The coroner found the Royal Adelaide Hospital's care appropriate and aligned with the patient's wishes. This case highlights the importance of early palliative care discussions in terminal cancer and appropriate symptom management in end-of-life care.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Drugs involved
Contributing factors
- advanced malignancy
- neutropenia
- respiratory distress syndrome
- fluid overload
- leg cellulitis with infection
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