Robinson, Terence James

54y · Male·Global cerebral hypoxic injury due to or as a consequence of status epilepticus

Terence James Robinson, 54, died from status epilepticus causing global cerebral hypoxic injury after 16 days at Belmont Private Hospital. He was admitted following a violent altercation with police and attempted suicide. After emergency sedation with benzodiazepines and antipsychotics on 29 September, he developed profound sedation and neurological deterioration. Critical issues included: lack of daily psychiatric review in the Special Care Unit (he was not seen on day 3 post-sedation); delayed recognition of serious deterioration; and uncertainty about transfer timing to a medical facility. While drug therapy was not definitively shown to cause death, experts identified potential triggers including medication interactions, old brain lesion predisposing to seizures, and possible non-convulsive status epilepticus. The coroner recommended implementing a rapid tranquilisation policy and daily SCU reviews to prevent similar deaths.