Inquest into the death of Matthew Smith

47y · Male·Follicular lymphoma with transformation to acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and the complications thereof

Matthew Geoffrey Smith, a 47-year-old man imprisoned for sexual offences, died in the ICU of Prince of Wales Hospital on 5 May 2022 from follicular lymphoma that had transformed to acute lymphoblastic leukaemia with complications including tumour lysis syndrome, neutropenic sepsis, and acute kidney injury. He had been receiving oncology treatment at Prince of Wales Hospital while in custody at Long Bay Correctional Centre. The coroner found no coronial issues, no concerns from family, and no recommendations were warranted. Corrective Services management was compliant with all policies. This case highlights appropriate end-of-life care decision-making in a custodial setting and the challenges of managing advanced haematological malignancy with multi-organ complications.