Coroner's Finding: Whittle, Marion Olive 2017 TASCD 114

87y · Female·cardiogenic shock and tricuspid regurgitation secondary to traumatic papillary muscle laceration resulting from motor vehicle crash

Marion Olive Whittle, aged 87, died from cardiogenic shock and tricuspid regurgitation following a motor vehicle crash on 6 January 2014. She sustained a traumatic papillary muscle laceration when the vehicle she was a passenger in was struck by another car. She was admitted to Royal Hobart Hospital's ICU and died on 7 January 2014 after consciously declining surgery due to her poor prognosis. Pre-existing heart conditions were significant contributing factors. The crash resulted from the driver's error—an improper U-turn across a no-crossing line without adequate visibility of oncoming traffic. This was a non-medical case; the death resulted from trauma and the patient's informed refusal of surgery given her age and cardiac condition.