Deceased
Louise Elizabeth Hayes
Demographics
49y, female
Coroner
Coroner Kate Despot
Date of death
2020-09-29
Finding date
2026-02-25
Cause of death
Aspiration pneumonia in the setting of cerebral palsy and epilepsy
AI-generated summary
Louise Hayes, a 49-year-old woman with cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and dysphagia, died from aspiration pneumonia at Kilmore & District Hospital. She had experienced deteriorating health in 2020 with increased seizures and recurrent aspiration pneumonia requiring frequent hospitalisation. Following non-response to antibiotics and food refusal, end-of-life care was commenced in consultation with medical practitioners and family. She was transferred to Kilmore Hospital on 24 September 2020 for palliative care and died 5 days later. The Disability Services Commissioner found no adverse findings against her disability service provider. This case highlights the progressive nature of aspiration risk in patients with cerebral palsy and dysphagia, and the importance of multidisciplinary end-of-life decision-making when medical interventions become futile.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes. Report an inaccuracy.
Specialties
Clinical conditions
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56y · Male·Recurrent aspiration pneumonia in a man with congenital disability and cognitive…
A 56-year-old man with congenital microcephaly, intellectual disability, dysphagia and recurrent aspiration pneumonia died from aspiration pneumonia whilst receiving palliative care in hospital. He had multiple episodes …
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