Inquest into the Death of Jason Anthony THOMPSON

54y · Male·metastatic lung cancer with terminal palliative care

Jason Anthony Thompson, a 54-year-old long-term prisoner at Casuarina Prison, died from metastatic lung cancer. He collapsed on 17 February 2023 with suspected opioid overdose but was not transferred to hospital for approximately 10 hours. While not definitively an opioid overdose, best practice would have been immediate hospital transfer given repeated naloxone doses and lack of typical overdose indicators. Subsequent investigations revealed brain and lung lesions. Thompson underwent craniotomy and palliative radiotherapy before returning to prison for end-of-life care. The coroner found his medical and palliative care in custody was excellent and compassionate, exceeding community standards. No preventable errors were identified, though the coroner noted concerns about routine palliative care in prison infirmaries lacking family access and appropriate facilities, recommending external care facilities for suitable prisoners.