Finding into death of Benjamin Hodgson

29y · Male·Diabetic ketoacidosis

Benjamin Hodgson, a 29-year-old man, presented to his GP on 20 January 2014 with polyuria, polydipsia, difficulty sleeping, fever (38.6°C), and hypertension. The GP diagnosed a urinary tract infection and prescribed antibiotics, arranging fasting blood tests for the following day. Mr Hodgson was found deceased the next morning from diabetic ketoacidosis with markedly elevated glucose (45 mmol/L). The coroner found that performing a bedside finger-prick glucose test or urine dipstick at the initial consultation would likely have identified severe hyperglycaemia and ketosis, prompting immediate hospital referral. The GP acknowledged in retrospect that these point-of-care tests were appropriate and regretted not performing them. The coroner noted that earlier identification of evolving ketoacidosis could have led to timely hospital management and potentially prevented death.