Demographics
65y, male
Date of death
2022-11-10
Finding date
2025-08-28
Cause of death
metastatic rectal cancer with extensive lung metastases
AI-generated summary
A 65-year-old man died from metastatic rectal cancer with extensive lung metastases while serving a prison sentence. He had presented with rectal bleeding symptoms since 2011 and returned a positive faecal occult blood test in March 2015 recommending colonoscopy. However, he subsequently declined multiple colonoscopy offers in 2018 and 2020 despite medical recommendation. A colonoscopy performed in October 2018 was incomplete due to poor bowel preparation, and he refused repeat investigation. When he finally consented to colonoscopy in June 2021, a large necrotic rectal mass was discovered with liver and lung metastases already present. The coroner found the standard of medical care provided was optimal and equivalent to or better than community standard. The delay in diagnosis was attributable primarily to the deceased's repeated refusal of recommended investigations rather than deficiencies in medical care.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes. Report an inaccuracy.
Specialties
Drugs involved
Clinical conditions
Procedures
53y · Male·metastatic carcinoma of the rectum (operated)
Paul Eugene Anker, a 53-year-old prisoner, died from metastatic rectal carcinoma at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. He had been appropriately diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2016 whilst in custody and underwent surgery, che…
9y · Female·peritonitis due to perforated small bowel due to blunt abdominal trauma
Nine-year-old Leila Baartse-Harkin died from peritonitis due to a perforated small bowel sustained when she fell from a swing. Despite three medical encounters within 36 hours, the perforation was never diagnosed. At a r…
71y · Male·acute pyelonephritis with contributing ischaemic heart disease
A 71-year-old male prisoner died from acute pyelonephritis with contributing ischaemic heart disease at Flinders Medical Centre. He had advanced metastatic gastric cancer diagnosed in February 2011 after presenting with …
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