Deceased
LEON EDWARD BALSHAW
Demographics
55y, male
Date of death
2018-01-31
Finding date
2019-08-07
Cause of death
Bronchopneumonia in a man with a healing myocardial infarction
AI-generated summary
Leon Edward Balshaw, aged 55, died from bronchopneumonia complicating a healing myocardial infarction while in police custody. He was arrested on 25 January 2018 following a domestic dispute and taken to Bairnsdale Regional Health Service where an abnormal ECG showing old anteroseptal infarct was noted but he was deemed medically stable. While in custody, he developed respiratory symptoms including coughing up blood-stained sputum on 29 January. He collapsed and was transferred to St Vincent's Hospital where he developed cardiogenic shock and died on 31 January. The coroner found the medical care provided throughout was appropriate and timely, and there was no causal connection between custody and death. The clinical lesson centres on recognising that patients with multiple cardiac risk factors (smoking, hypertension, coronary artery disease) presenting with respiratory symptoms require careful assessment for pneumonia and cardiac complications.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Clinical conditions
Procedures
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45y · Male·focal coronary artery disease and cardiomegaly
Stratos Ioannidis, age 45, died at Maroondah Hospital on 28 March 2025 from focal coronary artery disease and cardiomegaly during an involuntary psychiatric admission. He presented with acute psychosis from bipolar disor…
67y · Male·Complications of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
A 67-year-old man with end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was serving a lengthy prison sentence in Corrective Services NSW custody at Long Bay Hospital's Aged Care and Rehabilitation Unit. In early October 2…
Source and disclaimer
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