Coronial
VIChospital

Finding into death of David Sheppard

Deceased

David Sheppard

Demographics

76y, male

Coroner

Deputy State Coroner Paresa Spanos

Date of death

2017-05-15

Finding date

2019-10-02

Cause of death

Intracranial Haemorrhage Secondary to Blunt Head Trauma (Fall) in the Setting of Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia

AI-generated summary

A 76-year-old man with newly diagnosed chronic myeloid leukaemia in blast crisis was admitted to hospital with sepsis and pancytopenia from chemotherapy. He suffered multiple falls while confused from sepsis, sustaining a subdural haemorrhage that progressed despite maximal medical therapy. The coroner found no clinical mismanagement caused or contributed to death. However, the falls risk assessment tool was not completed correctly and did not document his recent fall history, failing to meet the hospital's own falls prevention guidelines. While more detailed falls risk documentation would not have changed the outcome, it would have better addressed family concerns. A systemic issue was identified: PBS regulations causing delays in accessing Imatinib Mesylate for acute leukaemia patients, though expedited treatment would only have controlled rather than cured the disease.

AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes. Report an inaccuracy.

Specialties

haematologyinfectious diseasesintensive careneurosurgery

Error types

systemdocumentation

Drugs involved

hydroxyureacytarabineimatinib mesylateantibiotics

Clinical conditions

chronic myeloid leukaemia in blast crisisneutropenic sepsispancytopeniasubdural haematomabrain herniationthrombocytopaeniaacute myeloid leukaemiasepsis

Procedures

computed tomography scan of brainchemotherapy administration

Contributing factors

  • Chronic myeloid leukaemia in blast crisis
  • Neutropenic sepsis
  • Pancytopenia with thrombocytopaenia from chemotherapy
  • Severe confusion secondary to sepsis
  • Multiple falls in hospital
  • Increased intracranial pressure and brain herniation
  • Subdural haematoma progression
  • Low platelet count precluding neurosurgical intervention
  • Non-compliance with falls prevention guidelines in documentation

Coroner's recommendations

  1. The Department of Health (Commonwealth) should review PBS regulations and consider whether actions can be undertaken to streamline the process of obtaining authority script for Imatinib Mesylate so that patients with leukaemia can be treated expeditiously and optimally, whether treatment is considered potentially curative or otherwise.
  2. Western Health should ensure the Risk Tool (Patient Risk Screening Assessment and Management Tool) is filled in correctly for every patient, including documentation of recent falls history and falls prevention education provided.
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