Coronial
WAhospital

Inquest into the death of Raymond Sydney CHEEK

Deceased

Raymond Sydney CHEEK

Demographics

89y, male

Coroner

Coroner Urquhart

Date of death

2021-09-19

Finding date

2024-09-24

Cause of death

Complications in association with a gastrointestinal illness in an elderly man with diabetes mellitus, chronic liver disease and atherosclerotic heart disease, medically palliated

AI-generated summary

Raymond Sydney Cheek, an 89-year-old prisoner with multiple comorbidities including insulin-dependent diabetes, died from complications of gastrointestinal illness with acute renal failure. While medical care at Casuarina Prison was generally appropriate, there was one medication error: an 18-unit insulin dose administered instead of the prescribed 9 units on 11 September 2021. Expert endocrinology review confirmed this error did not contribute to his death. The critical failure was the unjustified use of restraints during his final hospitalisation despite policy clearly prohibiting restraints for elderly, frail, terminally ill prisoners without risk assessment. No risk assessment was completed before transfer to hospital. Restraints remained for 7 days until his death, violating dignity and policy. Hospital care was appropriate given his grave condition. The Department has subsequently implemented improvements in diabetes monitoring and restraint protocols.

AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes. Report an inaccuracy.

Specialties

emergency medicineendocrinologygeneral medicinenephrologycardiologycorrectional healthpalliative care

Error types

medicationsystem

Drugs involved

ryzodeg insulinamoxicillinmultiple comorbidity medications

Clinical conditions

insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus type 2acute renal failurechronic kidney diseasehypoglycaemiagastrointestinal illnessdiarrhoeadehydrationbronchopneumoniacirrhosisatherosclerotic heart diseasecomplete heart blockabdominal aortic aneurysmhypertensionhypothyroidismcerebrovascular disease

Contributing factors

  • acute renal failure
  • dehydration from diarrhoeal illness
  • advanced age with multiple comorbidities
  • poor oral intake
  • hypotension
  • possible underlying infection
  • bronchopneumonia
  • cirrhosis
  • diabetic nephropathy

Coroner's recommendations

  1. No specific recommendations regarding insulin-dependent diabetes monitoring given the Department has already implemented comprehensive changes including multidisciplinary diabetic care plans, monthly chart reviews, enhanced staff education, and dedicated nurse education coordinator since October 2023
  2. No specific recommendations regarding restraint procedures given the Department has updated policies and procedures following previous inquests into similar cases involving elderly and terminally ill prisoners
Full text

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