376 results
2y · Male·Cardiorespiratory arrest in a young child with opioid (morphine) toxicity
David Flynn was a healthy 2-year-8-month-old boy who died after circumcision under sedation with morphine at a private general practice clinic on 7 December 2021. Critical failures included: no fasting instructions despi…
88y · Female·Complications of cholecystectomy surgery
Margaret Mariani, 88, died from complications of laparoscopic cholecystectomy for gallstone-induced pancreatitis. An iatrogenic small bowel perforation, likely caused by inadvertent suturing during closure, led to perito…
32y · Male·1(a) Aspiration of gastric contents; 1(b) Combined drug toxicity
A 32-year-old Eritrean refugee died on 22 August 2017 in a mental health unit from aspiration of gastric contents and combined drug toxicity. During his six-day admission, Mr SWX received 64 doses of 11 medications with …
<1y · Male·Head injury sustained in a difficult delivery including head impaction and caesa…
Baby Sidney died from severe hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy caused by head impaction during a difficult vaginal delivery attempt and subsequent caesarean section at 6 days old. The coroner found that medical care fell …
76y · Female·multi-organ failure and sepsis due to complications of cholecystectomy
A 76-year-old woman died from multi-organ failure and sepsis following a laparoscopic cholecystectomy at a rural hospital. During surgery, the surgeon became misoriented in the inflamed surgical field and divided the com…
<1y · Male·subgaleal haematoma and subarachnoid haemorrhage complicating a prolonged labour
Baby W died within 40 minutes of birth from subgaleal haematoma and subarachnoid haemorrhage following a failed instrumental delivery for prolonged labour. The coroner identified critical missed opportunities in decision…
23y · Male·Hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy due to near-drowning
A 23-year-old Indian citizen drowned at an unpatrolled, hazardous beach on Stradbroke Island after becoming caught in a rip current. He was unable to swim. Despite prompt CPR by lifeguards and paramedics with return of s…
67y · Male·Intracranial haemorrhage complicating coronary artery bypass graft surgery follo…
A 67-year-old man died from intracranial haemorrhage following coronary artery bypass graft surgery. He had suffered a right coronary artery dissection during percutaneous coronary intervention at Sunshine Hospital and w…
86y · Female·Pulmonary thromboembolism in the setting of deep leg vein thrombosis, secondary …
Barbara Deal, 86, died from pulmonary embolism secondary to deep vein thrombosis 17 days after lumbar spinal fusion surgery. Critical failures included: no repeat VTE risk assessments despite policy requirements; inconsi…
66y · Female·Hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy
A 66-year-old woman with COPD, obstructive sleep apnoea, and obesity underwent routine knee surgery at Royal Darwin Hospital. Post-operative care was inadequate. Despite dropping oxygen saturations to 88% when sedated an…
75y · Female·multiple organ failure due to severe anaemia secondary to blood loss post electi…
A 75-year-old woman died from multiple organ failure due to severe anaemia after elective hysterectomy surgery. Critical failures occurred: the surgical and anaesthetic teams held conflicting understandings about whether…
84y · Male·Ischaemic heart disease and coronary artery atherosclerosis in the setting of ty…
Jonathan Uphill, an 84-year-old man with extensive comorbidities including type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and prior cardiac risk factors, died of ischaemic heart disease with coronary artery atherosclerosis. He underwent…
<1y · Female·Complications of ascending uterine infection (Klebsiella pneumoniae) in the sett…
Mia Rose Iskander died at 8 hours of age from ascending uterine infection (Klebsiella pneumoniae) with chorioamnionitis following maternal premature pre-labour rupture of membranes (PPROM) at 32 weeks. Maternal managemen…
<1y · Male·Complications of birth-related traumatic head injury
Tasman Murray Tribe, a neonate born at 36 weeks gestation, died at 7 days of age from complications of birth-related traumatic head injury. Labour was prolonged in the second stage; instrumental delivery was attempted bu…
<1y · Male·Hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy due to an out of hospital cardiac arrest second…
A 10-month-old boy drowned in a backyard fishpond after a 27-minute period of inadequate supervision. He was found unresponsive by his aunt and underwent prolonged resuscitation, suffering severe hypoxic brain injury. De…
<1y · Unknown·unascertained
A 10-day-old neonate born at 36 weeks gestation presented to hospital with signs of sepsis including hypothermia, lethargy, poor feeding, and jaundice. Critical failures in recognition and triage occurred: the infant was…
<1y · Male·Pneumonia (early-onset, caused by Group B Streptococcus)
Baby XR died at one day old from early-onset pneumonia caused by Group B Streptococcus (GBS) acquired during vaginal delivery. The mother had known GBS colonisation and received intrapartum prophylactic antibiotics as pe…
68y · Female·haemopericardium resulting from perforation of the pericardial sac during laparo…
Mrs Christine Flynn, aged 68, died from haemopericardium and pericardial tamponade following laparoscopic hiatus hernia repair. A 2mm perforation of the pericardial sac occurred during surgery, likely from mesh tacks pla…
40y · Male·Acute hepatic and renal failure in the setting of postoperative haemorrhage foll…
A 40-year-old man with obesity, COPD, diabetes and hypertension died from acute hepatic and renal failure following postoperative haemorrhage after left radical nephrectomy for a 10cm renal cell carcinoma. The surgeon ap…
73y · Female·Multi organ failure due to adhesions related bowel perforation (surgically treat…
Sharyn Kaine, a 73-year-old woman, died from multi-organ failure due to adhesions-related bowel perforation and paracetamol-induced liver failure. She was prescribed intravenous paracetamol 1g four times daily post-opera…
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