Finding into death of Dianne Kaye Quinlan

51y · Female·Pulmonary thromboembolism in the setting of morbid obesity

Ms Quinlan, a 51-year-old woman with morbid obesity (BMI 74.2), depression, bipolar disorder and recent diabetes diagnosis, died from pulmonary thromboembolism while an involuntary psychiatric inpatient. She presented with leg pain and swelling in May 2014; ultrasound was technically difficult due to body habitus and didn't identify DVT, though she was advised to pursue arterial Doppler follow-up which she didn't complete. On admission to psychiatric care in August, she exhibited respiratory symptoms and shortness of breath on exertion, but these weren't investigated for thromboembolic disease. Clinical lessons: obesity significantly increases VTE risk and complicates imaging; respiratory symptoms in obese patients warrant VTE consideration; technical ultrasound limitations should prompt alternative imaging; and psychiatric patients require concurrent medical assessment, particularly when new respiratory symptoms emerge during admission.