Coronial
VIChospital

Finding into death of Maxine Joyce Manwaring

Deceased

MA

Demographics

48y, female

Date of death

2020-11-22

Finding date

2021-11-30

Cause of death

Pleural Effusion with Lung Infection

AI-generated summary

MA was a 48-year-old woman with acquired brain injury, profound intellectual disability, and quadriplegia living in supported accommodation. She died from pleural effusion with lung infection. She presented with laboured breathing on 7 November 2020; her GP arranged hospital assessment revealing fluid on the left lung. She was discharged but readmitted on 8 November when her condition deteriorated. Despite medical treatment over five days, she did not respond and was transitioned to palliative care, dying eight days later. The coroner found no evidence of preventable error. Clinical lessons include the importance of careful assessment and follow-up in patients with high aspiration risk and dysphagia, and consideration of early escalation when patients fail to improve on initial treatment.

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

Contributing factors

  • Acquired Brain Injury
  • High aspiration risk due to dysphagia
  • Quadriplegia and physical immobility
  • Underlying respiratory vulnerability
Full text

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