Finding into death of Patricia Parkes

62y · Female·Metastatic Breast Cancer

Patricia Parkes, a 62-year-old woman with autism and severe intellectual disability, died from metastatic breast cancer at a palliative care unit. She had resided in residential care since childhood with substantial family support. Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004, her condition became metastatic in August 2011. She received appropriate medical, nursing, and palliative care throughout her illness, both at home and in the palliative care unit where she was admitted 6 days before death. The coroner found her care and management to be reasonable and appropriate. This case demonstrates best practice in palliative care for vulnerable persons with complex needs, with no clinical lessons identified regarding preventability or care failures.