Finding into death of Carey Livingstone James

73y · Male·multisystem organ failure in the context of trauma and limb fracture

A 73-year-old Indigenous man with multiple comorbidities (diabetes, hypertension, obesity, sleep apnoea, ischaemic heart disease) sustained a right ankle fracture following collision with a motor vehicle while riding a mobility scooter on 24 April 2015. The collision resulted from poor visibility at a car park exit. He was hospitalised and subsequently developed multisystem organ failure, dying on 21 May 2015. Clinical review found tazocin antibiotic therapy was not causally related to his death. His deterioration was attributed to decompensation from significant comorbidities exacerbated by immobilisation following injury. Hospital in-depth case review identified several improvement recommendations including MET call follow-up protocols and multidisciplinary family meetings. The coroner recommended car park safety measures to prevent similar incidents.