Coronial
WAother

Inquest into the Death of Robert Allan EXELL

Deceased

Robert Allan EXELL

Demographics

55y, male

Coroner

Deputy State Coroner Linton

Date of death

2022-06-30

Finding date

August 2024

Cause of death

Complications of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma in a man with multiple comorbidities with terminal palliative care

AI-generated summary

Robert Exell, a 55-year-old Aboriginal man, died from complications of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma while in custody. He had chronic hepatitis C and alcohol-related liver disease since at least 2012. Key clinical gaps included a 12-month delay in his initial medical review after re-admission to prison in June 2019, and delayed investigation of his liver disease until late 2020. Although earlier detection might have enabled sooner hepatitis C treatment, the coroner found it would likely only have delayed rather than prevented death, given advanced cirrhosis and subsequent hepatocellular carcinoma diagnosis. Once terminal status was recognised, Mr Exell received appropriate palliative care. The coroner noted improvements have since been made to prison medical continuity and nurse triage processes.

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

Specialties

hepatologygastroenterologyoncologypalliative carecorrectional healthemergency medicine

Error types

delaysystem

Drugs involved

morphinemidazolamfurosemidelenvatinibglyceryl trinitrate

Clinical conditions

hepatitis Cliver cirrhosishepatocellular carcinomaoesophageal varicesgastrointestinal bleedingdecompensated liver failureascitesdiabetes mellitusischaemic heart disease with anginaalcohol use disorder

Procedures

gastroscopyoesophageal variceal bandingabdominal ultrasoundliver MRICT scan

Contributing factors

  • Chronic hepatitis C infection
  • Alcohol-related liver disease
  • Advanced cirrhosis evident from 2012
  • Hepatitis C reinfection or new infection after re-admission to prison
  • Oesophageal varices resistant to banding
  • Multiple comorbidities including ischaemic heart disease and diabetes
  • Delay in initial medical review (12 months after re-admission in June 2019)
  • Delay in liver disease investigations (until late 2020)
  • Delay in medical assessment during April 2022 gastrointestinal bleeding episode due to COVID-19 restrictions and staffing shortages
  • Non-disclosure of ongoing melaena episodes
Full text

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