Deceased
Matthew Robert Frandsen
Demographics
41y, male
Coroner
Coroner John Olle
Date of death
2011-06-16
Finding date
2013-06-12
Cause of death
mixed drug toxicity (ethanol, amitriptyline, methadone, morphine, diazepam, temazepam and oxazepam)
AI-generated summary
Matthew Frandsen, a 41-year-old with longstanding illicit drug and alcohol use disorder, died from mixed drug toxicity involving ethanol, methadone, morphine, amitriptyline, and benzodiazepines. He was found heavily intoxicated by police, who conveyed him to his friend's flat after he declined custody. Police advised against further alcohol consumption but did not arrange medical assessment or monitoring. Within hours, he was found unresponsive; his friend performed CPR after noting cyanosis. Post-mortem revealed evidence of recent intravenous drug use and chronic hepatitis. Clinical lessons include: recognising intoxicated individuals with polydrug use as requiring medical evaluation not just placement of care, understanding that brief police intervention lacks medical oversight, and considering addiction medicine and public health responses to reduce such preventable deaths.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes. Report an inaccuracy.
Specialties
Error types
Drugs involved
Clinical conditions
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