Coroner's Finding: SNIECIKOWSKA Alicja
Deceased
Alicja Sniecikowska
Demographics
68y, female
Date of death
2016-09-01
Finding date
2020-05-21
Cause of death
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
AI-generated summary
Ms Sniecikowska, a 68-year-old Polish-speaking woman with severe COPD, chronic alcoholism, cognitive impairment, and significant social isolation, was admitted to hospital for acute COPD exacerbation on 29 August 2016. Despite multiple interventions including oxygen, nebulised medications, and trials of non-invasive ventilation (BiPAP), she demonstrated poor compliance, refused diagnostic imaging (CTPA), and became increasingly agitated. She was placed on a Level 1 Mental Health Inpatient Treatment Order after refusing escalation of care. Conservative management continued with palliative focus. She died of respiratory failure on 1 September 2016. The coroner found care appropriate and lawful. Clinical lessons include the challenges of managing non-compliant patients with language barriers, cognitive impairment from hypoxia, and the need for early palliative planning when invasive interventions are refused and prognosis is poor.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Drugs involved
Contributing factors
- acute COPD exacerbation
- type 2 respiratory failure
- poor medication compliance
- active smoking
- refusal of non-invasive ventilation
- refusal of diagnostic imaging
- cognitive impairment secondary to hypoxia and chronic alcohol abuse
- language barrier
- social isolation
- agitation and non-compliance with treatment
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