Finding into death of Laurel Faith Howard
Deceased
Laurel Faith Howard
Demographics
52y, female
Date of death
2008-12-27
Finding date
2010-05-20
Cause of death
Aspiration pneumonia secondary to Alzheimer's Disease
AI-generated summary
Ms Howard was a 52-year-old woman with Down's Syndrome who developed Alzheimer's Disease and progressive cognitive decline. She was in institutional care with the Department of Human Services. Following GP referral, she was reviewed by a consultant physician in November 2008 who noted a loose cough; chest X-ray and cardiac investigations were arranged. In December, she was admitted to hospital with decreased oral intake, shortness of breath, cough, and drowsiness, with investigations revealing anaemia and right lobar pneumonia. A 'not for resuscitation' order was established after family discussions, and PEG feeding was declined. She received palliative care with morphine and midazolam, dying on 27 December 2008. The coroner attributed death to aspiration pneumonia secondary to Alzheimer's Disease. No autopsy was performed, but external examination and post-mortem CT scan confirmed this. The coroner found no evidence of any causal connection between the death and her care status.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Contributing factors
- Alzheimer's Disease with progressive cognitive decline
- dysphagia requiring specialized feeding
- immobility and inability to walk
- right lobar pneumonia
- anaemia
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