Coroner's Finding: CHEETHAM Robert Boyd

84y · Male·dilated cardiomyopathy with cardiomegaly due to pulmonary hypertension and valvular and ischaemic heart disease with atrial septal defect

An 84-year-old man with advanced cardiac disease (dilated cardiomyopathy, pulmonary hypertension, atrial septal defect) and chronic schizophrenia died of natural causes while subject to a Mental Health Act detention order at Royal Adelaide Hospital. He had been admitted with acute congestive cardiac failure exacerbation, discharged to nursing care, but returned to hospital hours later when he attempted to leave. His cognitive decline and inability for self-care necessitated detention under an Inpatient Treatment Order. The coroner found the detention lawful and appropriate, and that his death resulted from progression of chronic comorbidities rather than any deficiency in care or detention status.