Finding into death of Glenn Richard Altmann
Deceased
Glenn Richard Altmann
Demographics
50y, male
Date of death
2014-04-07
Cause of death
aspiration pneumonia (with Down syndrome as contributing condition)
AI-generated summary
Glenn Altmann, a 50-year-old man with Down syndrome, epilepsy, cognitive impairment and oropharyngeal dysphagia, died from aspiration pneumonia. He was under palliative care in the community following a January 2014 diagnosis of aspiration pneumonia and oropharyngeal dysphagia with absent cough/gag reflex. A clear palliative care plan was established with his family and DHS staff, prioritising comfort over aggressive feeding interventions, recognising that aspiration was inevitable and some episodes would result in infection. On 7 April 2014, his condition deteriorated and he was transferred to the palliative care ward where he died that evening. The care provided was appropriate and aligned with an agreed palliative approach. No clinical errors or preventable failures were identified.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Drugs involved
Contributing factors
- oropharyngeal dysphagia
- absent cough and gag reflex
- progressive deterioration in conscious state
- difficulty feeding
- Down syndrome
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