Finding into death of Angela Diane Atkins

51y · Female·unascertained

Angela Atkins, aged 51, died in police custody on 23 April 2007 while being held at Bendigo Police Station. She had been brought to Bendigo Hospital on 20 April with symptoms of opioid withdrawal and anxiety, and was discharged back to custody with diazepam 5mg prescribed three times daily. The following morning, she was found deceased in her cell. Autopsy revealed no structural disease, injury, or toxicological evidence directly explaining death. The coroner found the cause unascertained but noted no evidence of inadequate care. Key clinical lesson: opioid withdrawal can progress to life-threatening complications including seizures and delirium, though this patient showed no such signs at hospital assessment. Post-discharge monitoring in custodial settings warrants careful consideration of withdrawal severity and individual risk factors.