Finding into death of Elizabeth Geiger

69y · Female·Aspiration pneumonia in a woman with intellectual disability

Elizabeth Geiger, a 69-year-old woman with intellectual disability living in a disability group home, died from aspiration pneumonia after presenting with constipation. She was seen by her GP on 24 July 2017 who examined her, recognised constipation as her presenting problem, and prescribed appropriate management (Coloxyl and increased fluids). She collapsed the same evening and was resuscitated but suffered severe hypoxic brain injury during arrest. Autopsy revealed aspiration pneumonia with risk factors including her intellectual disability and dysphagia. The CPU review confirmed the GP assessment was reasonable and appropriate. The death was unrelated to the constipation for which she was treated and resulted from a natural cause. No failures in medical management were identified.