Finding into death of Dale Graeme Cook
Deceased
Dale Graeme Cook
Demographics
41y, male
Date of death
2011-07-24
Finding date
2011-10-24
Cause of death
Pneumonia and carcinoma of the oesophagus
AI-generated summary
Dale Cook was a 41-year-old man with cerebral palsy living in a Department of Human Services residential care facility. He had advanced oesophageal carcinoma. On 11 July 2011, he presented to Box Hill Hospital Emergency Department with a large gastrointestinal bleed and general deterioration in functioning. Medical assessment confirmed his advanced, incurable malignancy. After consultation with his family regarding his condition and likely prognosis, a palliative care pathway was initiated and he was transferred to Wantirna Health Service for specialised palliative care on the same day. He died 13 days later on 24 July 2011. The coroner found the cause of death to be pneumonia and oesophageal carcinoma, with cerebral palsy as a contributing factor. The death was determined to be from natural causes. No clinical concerns or adverse findings regarding clinician care were identified by the coroner. This case illustrates appropriate end-of-life care and decision-making in a patient with advanced terminal malignancy.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Clinical conditions
Contributing factors
- advanced oesophageal carcinoma
- cerebral palsy
- large gastrointestinal bleed
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