Coroner's Finding: TABB Charles Andrew

50y · Male·multi-organ failure due to pancreatitis and generalised varicella zoster virus infection due to immunodeficiency due to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Charles Andrew Tabb, a 50-year-old prisoner with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (diagnosed 13 years prior, treated with bone marrow transplants), died of multi-organ failure from pancreatitis and disseminated varicella zoster virus infection. He was admitted to hospital for a routine bone marrow biopsy but presented with severe abdominal pain. Despite endoscopy, varicella with pancreatic involvement was not immediately identified. He suffered two seizures, episodes of self-harm (removing oxygen, catheters, drip lines, blood transfusion line causing significant blood loss), and deteriorated rapidly. The coroner found prison health service care was appropriate and standard, with no preventable failures identified. Key clinical lesson: immunocompromised patients can present atypically; disseminated varicella in lymphoma patients carries high mortality and requires rapid recognition and supportive care intensification.