Inquest into the death of Katrina McGrady

43y · Female·Subarachnoid haemorrhage due to a ruptured berry aneurysm

Trina McGrady, a 43-year-old Goomeroi woman, died from subarachnoid haemorrhage due to a ruptured berry aneurysm on 15 September 2020. She had been admitted to John Hunter Hospital following incidental discovery of two large unruptured aneurysms. Key clinical failures included: failure to escalate increasing headaches (5-8/10) occurring 30 August–4 September to the treating neurosurgeon; delay in obtaining repeat imaging (CT/MRI) despite escalating headache severity; and inadequate informed consent discussion regarding treatment options before commencing antiplatelet therapy. The aneurysm ruptured on 4 September following a severe headache. Post-rupture, communication with her First Nations family regarding brain death certification and withdrawal of vasopressin was inadequate and culturally insensitive. Had escalating headaches been reported to Dr E., imaging could have been performed and potentially allowed earlier intervention or alternative treatment planning.