Coronial
WAhospital

Inquest into the Death of Alan David RATCLIFF

Deceased

Alan David RATCLIFF

Demographics

65y, male

Coroner

Coroner Jenkin

Date of death

2022-06-20

Finding date

2024-04-10

Cause of death

complications of intracranial haemorrhage (hypertensive haemorrhage), with terminal palliative care

AI-generated summary

Alan David Ratcliff, a 65-year-old prisoner at Acacia Prison, died from complications of intracranial haemorrhage (hypertensive haemorrhage) on 20 June 2022. He collapsed on 12 June 2022 with stroke symptoms and was hospitalised at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, where he was managed palliatively. Key clinical lessons include: (1) an outstanding neurology referral for recurrent migraines with aura was never completed—an MRI may have identified an aneurysm amenable to monitoring or surgical intervention; (2) inappropriate use of restraints was initially applied during hospitalisation of a terminally ill patient, though departmental policy has since been updated; (3) COVID-19 infection two days before collapse may have contributed to vascular susceptibility through inflammation, though this remains speculative. Overall, medical care was of high standard and commensurate with community care, with the primary missed opportunity being completion of neurology review.

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Specialties

neurologyemergency medicinepalliative carecorrectional health

Error types

delay

Clinical conditions

intracranial haemorrhagehypertensive haemorrhagemigraine with auraposterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (suspected)coronary artery atherosclerosishypertensionCOVID-19 infection

Contributing factors

  • Outstanding neurology referral not completed prior to collapse
  • Recurrent migraines with aura suggesting possible underlying cerebrovascular pathology
  • Possible vascular susceptibility exacerbated by recent COVID-19 infection
  • Coronary artery atherosclerosis and hypertension

Coroner's recommendations

  1. Continued monitoring and improvement of departmental policies regarding restraint of palliative and terminally ill prisoners during hospital admissions
Full text

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