Finding into death of Kaylah Veronica Sarah Woollard
Deceased
Kaylah Veronica Sarah Woollard
Demographics
25y, female
Date of death
2022-12-15
Finding date
2026-06-23
Cause of death
Mixed drug consumption (pregabalin, oxycodone, desmethylvenlafaxine, aripiprazole, olanzapine, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) in a woman with WHO Class III obesity and cardiac hypertrophy
AI-generated summary
Kaylah Veronica Sarah Woollard, age 25, died from mixed drug toxicity in the context of significant natural disease. She had WHO Class III obesity (BMI 94.5), cardiac hypertrophy, and mental health conditions (depression, anxiety, complex PTSD). She received illicit oxycodone and pregabalin from her incarcerated partner and ingested these along with prescribed antipsychotics, causing sudden cardiac death. While she had a documented history of suicide attempts, insufficient evidence established intentional self-harm on this occasion. The enlarged heart from obesity and multiple antipsychotics (increasing QT-prolongation risk) significantly contributed. Clinical care by her GP and supported accommodation provider was reasonable, though the coroner identified opportunity for better communication between treating clinicians regarding medication monitoring and metabolic impacts. Key systemic concerns: inadequate medication controls at the correctional facility enabled drug trafficking to the community, and gaps in NDIS oversight of residential status.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Specialties
Error types
Contributing factors
- WHO Class III obesity with cardiac hypertrophy and enlarged heart
- Mixed drug ingestion including illicit oxycodone and pregabalin received via post
- Multiple antipsychotic medications with weight-gain effects and QT-prolongation risk
- Inadequate communication and coordination between GP and psychiatrist
- Limited metabolic monitoring due to reliance on telehealth consultations
- History of mental illness, suicide attempts, and self-harm behavior
- Vulnerability as NDIS recipient with intellectual disability
- Medication stockpiling and trafficking from correctional facility
Coroner's recommendations
- Corella Place should institute a policy requiring residents to disclose all Schedule 8 medications with centralized control and administration, subject to limited exceptions overseen by the Multi-Disciplinary Assessment Team
- Serious consideration should be given to centralizing control and administration of pregabalin at Corella Place given its potential for abuse and dangerousness in combination with other medications
- Department of Justice and Community Safety should review medication management policies at Corella Place with view to adopting medication dispensing systems that replicate those in prison facilities
- NDIA to review and enhance oversight and information-sharing arrangements regarding residential address and accommodation status for NDIS participants eligible for specialist disability accommodation
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