Finding into death of Maree Joan Bermingham
Deceased
Maree Joan Bermingham
Demographics
66y, female
Date of death
2025-07-27
Finding date
2026-09-24
Cause of death
Complications of reduced oral intake in setting of cerebral palsy
AI-generated summary
Maree Joan Bermingham, 66 years old, died at Sale Hospital on 27 July 2025 from complications of reduced oral intake in the setting of cerebral palsy. She had resided in Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) care since 2010 with multiple comorbidities including dysphagia, cerebral palsy, and intellectual disability. Following COVID-19 illness on 1 July 2025, her oral intake declined markedly with vomiting and nausea. After emergency department visits on 5 and 9 July, she was admitted to hospital on 10 July where staff managed severe faecal loading, post-prandial vomiting, and possible gastroparesis. Nasogastric feeding attempts were unsuccessful and caused distress, so this approach was abandoned. A gastroscopy identified only a hiatus hernia. Despite multiple interventions including enemas, motility agents, anti-nausea medications, and intravenous fluids, her oral intake did not improve. The medical team and family appropriately transitioned to end-of-life palliative care on 24 July. The coroner found all care provided was appropriate and identified no preventable factors.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Clinical conditions
Contributing factors
- COVID-19 illness with subsequent decline in oral intake
- dysphagia
- severe faecal loading
- gastroparesis (possible)
- vomiting and nausea post-COVID
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