Finding into death of Magdalena Dorter
Deceased
MAGDALENA DORTER
Demographics
58y, female
Date of death
2016-03-02
Finding date
2017-08-14
Cause of death
Haemorrhagic shock complicating pulmonary thromboembolism in the setting of deep vein thromboses following a foot fracture sustained in a fall
AI-generated summary
A 58-year-old woman with obesity (BMI 38) sustained a metatarsal fracture and was treated with a below-knee plaster cast by her GP. Despite appropriate initial assessment and consultation with a haematologist regarding VTE prophylaxis, she developed extensive deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism with a saddle embolus, leading to haemorrhagic shock and death. The coroner found the care provided was reasonable and appropriate, with no evidence the death could have been prevented. However, the finding highlights a critical gap: Australia lacks current national VTE prophylaxis guidelines for outpatient immobilised patients, particularly obese individuals. The coroner expressed concern about this regulatory vacuum and recommended development of new national VTE guidelines to prevent similar deaths.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Specialties
Error types
Drugs involved
Clinical conditions
Contributing factors
- obesity (BMI 38)
- immobilisation from foot fracture
- prior breast cancer treated with letrozole
- tight plaster cast
- extended plaster cast to knee
- lack of current national VTE prophylaxis guidelines for outpatients
Coroner's recommendations
- The Victorian Minister for Health should be encouraged to support development of new venous thromboembolism guidelines
- The Council of Presidents of Medical Colleges should be encouraged to support development of new, national venous thromboembolism guidelines
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