Finding into death of Robert Kingsley Whitehead

84y · Male·Complications of gout and old spinal injury, cause unknown

An 84-year-old male prisoner with multiple comorbidities (gout, spinal cord injury, renal impairment, cardiac failure) presented with chest infection, abdominal pain, and urinary retention. He was treated with intravenous antibiotics for suspected overwhelming sepsis. Despite appropriate broad-spectrum antibiotics, he deteriorated clinically. The patient became agitated and uncooperative, refusing further investigations including bone scan. After discussion with family regarding futility of further treatment given multiple comorbidities and declining condition, palliative care was initiated. Death resulted from complications of gout and old spinal injury (cause unknown) rather than primarily from sepsis. The coroner found care provided was appropriate given the clinical complexity.