Finding into death of Maxwell Bernard Howard
Deceased
Maxwell Bernard Howard
Demographics
84y, male
Date of death
2023-11-14
Finding date
2025-07-14
Cause of death
Bronchopneumonia in the setting of pulmonary emphysema and hypertensive heart disease
AI-generated summary
Maxwell Howard, 84, died from bronchopneumonia in the setting of pulmonary emphysema and hypertensive heart disease while admitted to a mental health acute unit under a Temporary Treatment Order. He had multiple comorbidities including congestive heart failure, COPD, and bipolar disorder, with poor medication compliance from 2018. He was non-compliant with care, refusing physical examination and vital sign checks in the hours before death. On the day of death, he complained of abdominal pain but refused examination; four hours later he was found unresponsive and deceased. The coroner found no causal nexus between his mental health care status and death from natural causes. Clinical lessons include the challenge of managing non-compliant patients with multiple chronic conditions, the importance of attempting physical assessment despite patient refusal, and recognising deterioration in patients with COPD and heart disease.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Drugs involved
Contributing factors
- Non-compliance with medication from 2018
- Refusal of physical examination and vital sign monitoring
- Multiple acute and chronic conditions including COPD, congestive heart failure, aortic stenosis
- Recent acute deterioration requiring hospital admission
- Possible aspiration episode
Coroner's recommendations
- Grampians Health should liaise with Maxwell's family regarding their concerns about alleged mistreatment
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