Inquest into the Death of Jeffery William ROONEY

41y · Male·subarachnoid haemorrhage due to rupture of a berry aneurysm of the right internal carotid artery

A 41-year-old male prisoner died from subarachnoid haemorrhage caused by rupture of an undiagnosed berry aneurysm while incarcerated. He had a complex medical history including migraines, head injuries, hypertension, and substance use. In June 2021, he presented with right facial pain initially attributed to sinusitis; a cranial CT was ordered but not completed before his collapse. Expert neurological opinion confirmed that a plain CT scan would be unlikely to detect an unruptured aneurysm and that his facial pain was unrelated to the aneurysm. Berry aneurysms are typically asymptomatic until rupture, occur in 3-5% of the population, and routine screening is not recommended. The coroner found the medical care provided was appropriate and reasonable, with proper escalation of treatment when initial management was ineffective. No preventable factors were identified.