Rawson, Robert Donald

68y · Male·Internal haemorrhage due to coagulopathy and upper gastrointestinal varices, cirrhosis of the liver, alcohol consumption, and recent myocardial infarction

Robert Donald Rawson, a 68-year-old man with end-stage cirrhosis and multiple comorbidities, died hours after undergoing intercostal catheter insertion for pleural effusion drainage at Rockhampton Hospital. While the procedure itself was clinically appropriate and supported by tertiary referral, the coroner found systemic issues in regional practice: the procedure was conducted in a ward rather than a sterile theatre, performed by an inexperienced practitioner, involved ill-fitting equipment requiring adaptation, and had inadequate documentation and family communication. Expert evidence concluded the procedure unlikely contributed significantly to death, which resulted from rapid hepatic decompensation, coagulopathy, gastrointestinal bleeding, and acute cardiac events. The coroner recommended Queensland Health address equipment standardisation, staff training in surgical skills, procedural venue standards, and documentation practices in regional centres.