Finding into death of Skye Suzanne Turner
Deceased
Skye Suzanne Turner
Demographics
36y, female
Date of death
2017-03-10
Finding date
2017-10-16
Cause of death
Mixed drug toxicity
AI-generated summary
Skye Turner, a 36-year-old woman with borderline personality disorder and substance use disorder, died from mixed drug toxicity after being discharged from Maroondah Hospital on 8 March 2017. She had been admitted with opioid withdrawal, depression, and suicidal ideation. Hospital discharge planning included community follow-up, accommodation, and mental health support. However, she did not present to arranged accommodation and instead used heroin with her partner. She was found deceased in a van on 11 March 2017. The coroner noted that her partner lacked training in recognising overdose signs and administering naloxone. Key lessons include the critical importance of overdose education and naloxone availability for people at risk, ensuring robust follow-up after psychiatric discharge, and the potential role of harm minimisation strategies including supervised injection facilities.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Error types
Drugs involved
Contributing factors
- Opioid and heroin use
- Prescription medication use including benzodiazepines and antidepressants
- Lack of overdose recognition and naloxone training by companion
- Homelessness and unstable accommodation
- Delayed presentation to emergency department after overdose
- Non-engagement with arranged community accommodation and follow-up services
- Chaotic lifestyle and active substance use disorder
Coroner's recommendations
- Department of Health and Human Services Victoria to review drug-related support services in the City of Yarra and expand availability of naloxone to people positioned to witness and respond to overdoses
- Consider establishment of a supervised injecting facility in Victoria as a harm minimisation strategy
- Expand overdose education and naloxone training to people at risk of witnessing overdoses
- Strengthen follow-up mechanisms and engagement strategies for patients discharged from psychiatric services with active substance use disorders
Full text
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