Deceased
John Michael Jurdeczka
Demographics
62y, male
Coroner
Coroner Simon McGregor
Date of death
2024-09-28
Finding date
2025-07-17
Cause of death
Hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy complicating cardiac arrest in setting of acute upper airway obstruction by food bolus
AI-generated summary
John Michael Jurdeczka, a 62-year-old man with autism, intellectual disability, and dysphagia, died from hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy following cardiac arrest caused by acute upper airway obstruction from a food bolus. During a community outing, despite having a detailed Mealtime Management Plan requiring close supervision, small food pieces (1.5cm), and use of a teaspoon, John grabbed banana bread from the floor and swallowed it unchewed while in a bus at a service station. Two casual support workers attempted removal but were unsuccessful due to positioning and John's resistance. Paramedics arrived approximately 2-3 minutes after the emergency call and initiated CPR, but John suffered irreversible brain damage. The coroner found the death was not preventable and care was reasonable and appropriate. Key lessons include the challenges of managing food-related behaviours in vulnerable individuals with dysphagia during community outings, the difficulty of enforcing supervision protocols in non-controlled environments, and the importance of rapid emergency response.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes. Report an inaccuracy.
Specialties
Error types
Drugs involved
Clinical conditions
Procedures
57y · Male·Complications following food aspiration in a man with multiple co-morbidities
Andrew Kursinskis, a 57-year-old man with intellectual disability, dysphagia, autism, epilepsy and pica, died from complications following aspiration of chicken schnitzel while living in supported disability accommodatio…
53y · Female·Natural causes unascertained
Yvonne Dekkers, a 53-year-old woman with Down syndrome, advanced dementia, congestive cardiac failure, and severe dysphagia, died in hospital from unascertained natural causes. She had experienced progressive deteriorati…
71y · Female·Complications of cerebral palsy
Lorraine Earl, aged 71, died from complications of cerebral palsy at Wantirna Hospital following a palliative care pathway initiated after severe dysphagia developed during a hospital admission. The Disability Services C…
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