Finding into death of Douglas Earnest Stott

72y · Male·Diffuse large B cell lymphoma

Douglas Stott, a 72-year-old prisoner with diffuse large B cell lymphoma, died of natural causes in hospital on 7 January 2021. He had been receiving telehealth oncology consultations while incarcerated but refused in-person treatment in March and November 2020 due to unwillingness to transfer through Port Phillip Prison (PPP) to access St Vincent's Hospital. While systemic protocols for escalating treatment refusals were not yet in place at the time of his incarceration, the coroner found the refusal was likely immaterial to the outcome given the cancer's aggressive nature. The case highlights obstacles in accessing tertiary healthcare within custodial systems and the importance of clinical escalation protocols for prisoners refusing necessary treatment.