Inquest into the Death of Marlene Faye Ware

56y · Female·Cardiac Failure Secondary to Atherosclerotic Heart Disease, Systemic Hypertension and Diabetes Mellitus

Marlene Faye Ware, a 56-year-old Aboriginal woman serving home detention for traffic offences, collapsed suddenly at home on 24 November 2002 and died in the Emergency Department of Royal Perth Hospital. She had Type II Diabetes Mellitus, was a long-time smoker, obese, and had abnormal lipid levels. Her general practitioner diagnosed congestive cardiac failure in September 2002 and treated her appropriately. The coroner found her death was consistent with cardiac failure secondary to atherosclerotic heart disease, systemic hypertension, and diabetes. Home detention was deemed appropriate and there were no clinical failures. The coroner expressed concern about Aboriginal health disparities and Aboriginal cultural objections to internal post-mortem examination, and recommended the Department of Justice consider facilitating communication between community GPs and custodial health practitioners regarding Aboriginal prisoners' medical information.