Deceased
Sarah Victoria Bishop
Demographics
71y, female
Date of death
2015-10-27
Finding date
2016-10-17
Cause of death
Multiple injuries sustained in a motor vehicle crash
AI-generated summary
Sarah Victoria Bishop, aged 71, died from multiple injuries sustained in a motor vehicle crash on 27 October 2015. Her car crossed onto the wrong side of the Channel Highway in Tasmania and collided head-on with an oncoming vehicle. Toxicological analysis revealed dextromethorphan (from over-the-counter Robitussin cough mixture) at greater than therapeutic levels. Mrs Bishop was a slow metaboliser of this drug—a condition affecting 5–10% of the Caucasian population—causing impaired driving ability with inattention, confusion, and slowed judgment. The coroner was satisfied this was the most likely cause of her driving on the incorrect side of the road for 600 metres before impact. The coroner found the medication's warning inadequate given the magnitude of risk and recommended stronger warnings on the product box and bottle about potential driving impairment.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Drugs involved
Clinical conditions
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