Coroner's Finding: Porthouse, David John

70y · Male·uraemic encephalopathy

David John Porthouse, a 70-year-old man with chronic kidney disease, diabetes, and cardiac disease, fell at home in February 2020 causing a neck of femur fracture. He was treated surgically and remained hospitalised. During his prolonged admission, he acquired multiple drug-resistant infections. He presented to hospital again on 28 August 2020 with severe diarrhoea and acute renal failure. A decision for palliative care was made jointly with his guardian and family. He died on 3 September 2020 from uraemic encephalopathy. The coroner found that appropriate standard of care was provided throughout his hospitalisation, with nothing further that could have been done.