Deceased
RT
Demographics
66y, male
Coroner
Coroner Ingrid Giles
Date of death
2023-09-17
Finding date
2025-03-18
Cause of death
Complications of excess alcohol intake in a man with heart disease
AI-generated summary
A 66-year-old man died from complications of excess alcohol intake in the setting of underlying heart disease. He had a 40+ year history of heavy daily alcohol consumption (12+ cans of beer plus whiskey daily), chronic pain from previous bowel surgery and hernia, and undiagnosed mild heart disease. Post-mortem toxicology showed ethanol 0.16 g/100mL and evidence of alcoholic ketoacidosis (elevated beta-hydroxybutyrate). He was on melatonin, indomethacin, mirtazapine and tramadol for pain, anxiety and depression. The coroner identified no specific clinical errors but used this case to highlight systemic gaps in Victoria's alcohol harm reduction strategy, noting a 20-year gap since the last coordinated action plan despite consistent evidence on what interventions reduce alcohol-related deaths.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes. Report an inaccuracy.
Specialties
Drugs involved
Clinical conditions
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