Mallie, William Michael

58y · Male·Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease

William Mallie, a 58-year-old Torres Strait Islander man, died of sudden cardiac arrest while receiving haemodialysis in prison. He had end-stage renal disease, long-standing poorly controlled type 2 diabetes since 1985, hypertension, coronary artery disease (with prior bypass surgery), and significant diabetic complications including amputations. The coroner found he received appropriate medical care at the correctional centre medical facility, which was confirmed by independent forensic medical review. Patients on haemodialysis have 30 times higher cardiovascular mortality risk than the general population, with sudden cardiac death being the most common cause of death in this group (28% of mortality). The coroner concluded the death was from natural causes and could not reasonably have been prevented, despite prior complaints about adequacy of medical services.