Coroner's Finding: Clark, Philip Patrick

79y · Male·advanced dementia, atherosclerotic and hypertensive cerebrovascular disease, and alcoholism

Philip Patrick Clark, aged 79, died of advanced dementia complicated by atherosclerotic and hypertensive cerebrovascular disease and alcoholism at the Roy Fagan Centre in October 2019. He had lived a peripatetic lifestyle characterised by alcohol abuse and was transferred to the facility in October 2017 following a hip fracture and rehabilitation. In his final two months, he experienced declining mobility and appetite. A palliative approach to care was appropriately adopted on 18 October 2019. The coroner found the care, treatment and supervision at the facility was entirely appropriate, with no evidence of mistreatment or contributory fall-related injury. This case illustrates appropriate end-of-life care management in an aged care setting.