Finding into death of Joyce Drummond

80y · Female·Complications of chronic lymphocytic lymphoma in the setting of multiple medical comorbidities

Joyce Drummond, an 80-year-old woman with chronic lymphocytic lymphoma, pancytopenia, and intellectual disability, died from complications of her lymphoma in a palliative care setting. She had lived in disability accommodation her entire life with no known relatives. Following progressive functional decline and recurrent febrile neutropenic episodes despite multiple treatments, a multidisciplinary team appropriately decided on palliative care in July 2019. She was transferred to the Palliative Care Unit at Golf Links Road Rehabilitation Centre on 18 July 2019 and died on 11 August 2019. The coroner found no evidence of causal connection between her death and her dependence on care. The clinical decision-making appeared well-considered and appropriate given her progressive illness and functional decline.