sepsis and pneumonia due to immobility with sacral ulcer resulting from schizophrenia
AI-generated summary
Sandra Shields, aged 63, died of sepsis and pneumonia secondary to a sacral pressure ulcer in the context of treatment-resistant catatonic schizophrenia. She was admitted to Launceston General Hospital in February 2019 with fever and catatonia. Despite appropriate medical management including antipsychotic medications, benzodiazepines, electroconvulsive therapy, nasogastric feeding, and a Mental Health Act treatment order, her condition proved resistant to treatment. She became progressively unresponsive with a non-healing pressure wound, ultimately requiring transition to palliative care. The coroner found her medical management and care at the hospital to be of good standard. No preventable factors were identified, and the death reflected the natural decline expected in chronic schizophrenia with complications.
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