Deceased
LLONA ELIZABETH DOOLAN
Demographics
54y, female
Date of death
2012-01-18
Finding date
2014-09-11
Cause of death
Complications of progressive dysphagia in a woman with Down syndrome and dementia
AI-generated summary
Llona Doolan, a 54-year-old woman with Down syndrome and dementia, died from complications of progressive dysphagia. She was admitted to Western Hospital with difficulty swallowing and poor oral intake. A multidisciplinary team assessed her as unsuitable for percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) due to aspiration risk and deteriorating condition. The coroner found that medical management and care provided by Western Hospital and the Department of Human Services was reasonable and appropriate. The case highlights the challenges in managing progressive dysphagia in patients with severe intellectual disability and dementia, where invasive interventions may be contraindicated and palliative comfort-focused care becomes the appropriate approach.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
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