Inquest into death of JULIE ANN HERMANS

54y · Female·Multiple organ failure, due to pneumonia in a patient with Guillain-Barré syndrome with quadriplegia, diabetes mellitus, chronic pain and recurrent infections

Julie Ann Hermans, a 54-year-old Aboriginal woman with Guillain-Barré syndrome, quadriplegia, diabetes, and recurrent infections, died from multiple organ failure due to hospital-acquired pneumonia during an ICU admission at The Canberra Hospital. The family raised concerns about disability discrimination, parenteral feed composition, and adequacy of specialist response. The coroner found no evidence to support these contentions. The pathologist noted Mrs Hermans received high-level investigation and treatment with appropriate multidisciplinary involvement. Extensive discussions occurred regarding feeding safety and airway management, with consensus that intubation was not warranted based on her ability to maintain her airway and her expressed wishes declining ICU re-admission and CPR. No systemic failures or discriminatory practices were identified.