Coronial
VICaged care

Finding into death of Terence Michael Brooks

Deceased

Terence Michael Brooks

Demographics

76y, male

Coroner

Coroner Simon McGregor

Date of death

2019-07-07

Finding date

2023-02-20

Cause of death

Streptococcus pneumoniae sepsis in the setting of acute bronchopneumonia and renal failure due to obstructive uropathy in a man with dementia and ischaemic heart disease

AI-generated summary

Terence Michael Brooks, a 76-year-old man with dementia, vascular disease, and depression, died of streptococcal pneumoniae sepsis with acute bronchopneumonia and renal failure from obstructive uropathy at an aged care facility. Key clinical lessons include: communication breakdown occurred when his recent UTI diagnosis and antibiotic treatment were not conveyed to his new GP after transfer between facilities, creating a month-long treatment gap. His decline was attributed to dementia and grief, potentially masking serious acute illness. On 6 July 2019, mild oxygen desaturation (91%) was documented but not escalated or monitored overnight. On 7 July 2019, staff underappreciated his critical condition before his rapid death. While the coroner found care was reasonable and the death not preventable, deficiencies in communication between care facilities, documentation, overnight monitoring of declining vitals, and clinical escalation were identified.

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

Specialties

geriatric medicinegeneral practicepsychiatrypathology

Error types

communicationdelaysystem

Drugs involved

venlafaxineparacetamolmetoclopramideantidepressantsantipsychoticsoral antibiotics for uti

Clinical conditions

sepsisstreptococcal pneumoniae pneumoniaacute bronchopneumoniaacute kidney injuryobstructive uropathyurinary tract infectionbenign prostatic hyperplasiabladder outlet obstructionvascular dementiaischaemic heart diseasecerebrovascular diseasedepressioncachexia

Contributing factors

  • Communication breakdown regarding UTI diagnosis and antibiotic treatment between transferring and receiving aged care facilities
  • Information loss regarding recent UTI diagnosis and prescribed antibiotics at admission to TLC
  • Lack of overnight monitoring following documentation of lowered oxygen saturations on 6 July 2019
  • Underestimation of severity of clinical deterioration on morning of 7 July 2019
  • Attribution of acute symptoms to dementia and grief rather than acute medical illness
  • Prostate hyperplasia with bladder outlet obstruction causing urinary retention and renal failure
  • Advanced dementia with poor oral intake predisposing to infection
  • Inadequate documentation of nursing observations
  • Insufficient communication of clinical findings between WHACLS and TLC staff

Coroner's recommendations

  1. Implementation of a Continuous Quality Improvement Plan across all TLC aged care homes including increased oversight, training for staff in recognising and responding to clinical deterioration, communication between staff and families, quarterly audits, updates to relevant procedures, and staff performance monitoring
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