Coroner's Finding: FIORETTI Louisa Jill Josephine

19y · Female·2,4-dinitrophenol toxicity

A 19-year-old woman died from 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP) toxicity after intentionally ingesting approximately 50 x 250mg capsules purchased online. She presented to Flinders Medical Centre with an Inpatient Treatment Order in place. Despite expert multidisciplinary management including sedation, intubation, ECMO, attempted dialysis, charcoal administration, and dantrolene use, she deteriorated rapidly with uncontrollable hyperthermia and went into cardiac arrest. The coroner found treatment was expert and appropriate, but the dose was lethal and unsurvivable. DNP is a highly toxic uncontrolled substance with no antidote, resurgent popularity as an unregulated diet aid, and has since been prohibited for human use in Australia. Clinicians should be aware of DNP toxicity presentation and the lack of specific treatment.