Inquest into the death of John Little

76y · Male·Pleuropulmonary Malignancy on the background of End-Stage Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

John Little, a 76-year-old man in custody, died from pleuropulmonary malignancy on a background of end-stage COPD. He had significant long-standing health problems including COPD related to smoking and asbestos exposure, requiring home oxygen prior to incarceration. A lung mass suspicious for malignancy was identified on imaging in 2020; he was deemed unsuitable for surgery or chemotherapy and managed palliatively. He was found unresponsive in his cell at 9:40pm on 2 December 2020 and pronounced deceased. The coroner found no suspicious circumstances, confirmed appropriate medical care was provided throughout his custody, and that his healthcare and welfare needs were adequately met. No clinical errors or preventability issues were identified.