Finding into death of Arthur Moumas

39y · Male·aspiration pneumonia

Arthur Moumas was a 39-year-old man with severe intellectual disability who resided in Colanda Residential Services. He had chronic conditions including severe kyphoscoliosis, epilepsy, osteoporosis, and was dependent on PEG feeding. Over three months, he experienced multiple pneumonia episodes (April, May, June 2009) with initial recovery. In late July, he developed hemoptysis attributed initially to a burst blood vessel. Despite antibiotic treatment, his condition deteriorated; he was transferred from Colac Area Health to Geelong Hospital on July 28, 2009. He developed acute respiratory failure and died on July 30, 2009 from aspiration pneumonia. The coroner found that his underlying health conditions and cascade of pneumonia episodes directly caused his death. His family expressed high praise for care provided by all staff, and the coroner made no adverse findings or recommendations.