Finding into death of Vishna Mary Damke

54y · Female·Pneumonia and radiation induced brain injury

Vishna Damke, a 54-year-old woman with a long history of brainstem tumour treated with radiotherapy in 1994-1995, died of pneumonia complicated by radiation-induced brain injury. She had experienced progressive neurological deterioration over nearly 20 years, including cognitive impairment, dysphasia, and contractures. She was transferred to palliative care at McCulloch House on 12 March 2013 with clinical signs of pneumonia (fever, tachycardia, bilateral crackles) and died the following day. The coroner found no clinical issues with her end-of-life management. This case illustrates the long-term consequences of radiation therapy and highlights appropriate palliative care provision for patients with advanced neurological disease.