Finding into death of Tracey Ellen Maree Wood
Deceased
Tracey Ellen Maree Wood
Demographics
60y, female
Date of death
2025-02-14
Finding date
2025-08-22
Cause of death
Pneumonia with large pleural effusion
AI-generated summary
Ms Wood, a 60-year-old woman with Down syndrome, Alzheimer's disease and epilepsy residing in specialist disability accommodation, developed pneumonia with large pleural effusion and died in hospital. A speech pathologist identified persistent wet cough in November 2024 and recommended GP review if worsening. By February 2025, Ms Wood was coughing during meals despite a highly modified diet. A video fluoroscopy swallow study was declined by the hospital based on her advanced age, cognitive status and prior 2023 study showing aspiration. When Ms Wood struggled with oral intake on 8 February, she was admitted to hospital. She developed hypoxia requiring MET calls and progressed to palliative care, dying 6 days later. The coroner found death from natural causes. The case illustrates challenges in managing aspiration risk in elderly patients with cognitive decline and the limitations of further investigations when prior studies provide adequate information for management decisions.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Contributing factors
- Down syndrome
- Alzheimer's disease
- Epilepsy
- Dysphagia with aspiration risk
- Specialist disability accommodation residence
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