Deceased
Larelle Sheridan Dean
Demographics
51y, female
Coroner
Deputy State Coroner Paresa Spanos
Date of death
2024-11-10
Finding date
2025-12-01
Cause of death
Multiorgan failure in the setting of WHO Class III obesity, chronic excessive alcohol consumption and anaemia (palliated), with recent left tibial fracture as a contributing factor
AI-generated summary
A 51-year-old woman with WHO Class III obesity, chronic alcohol consumption, and anaemia died of multiorgan failure following admission with community-acquired pneumonia and respiratory failure. She presented with abdominal pain and reduced responsiveness on 4 November 2024, was found to have type 2 respiratory failure, acute kidney injury, and constipation. Despite appropriate management including non-invasive ventilation, antibiotics, and diuresis, she deteriorated with recurrent hypoxic episodes and apnoea. A MET call on 8 November revealed poor prognosis; palliative care was commenced and she died peacefully on 10 November. The coroner found no want of clinical management at any facility contributed to her death. Clinical lessons include early recognition of severe obesity as a risk factor for complications, careful opioid dosing in this population, and timely escalation which occurred appropriately in this case.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes. Report an inaccuracy.
Specialties
Drugs involved
Clinical conditions
Procedures
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