Inquest into the death of Craig Catley

32y · Male·sudden cardiac arrhythmia

Craig Catley, aged 32, died of sudden cardiac arrhythmia while in prison custody one day after discharge from Prince of Wales Hospital following neurosurgery for a pituitary tumour. The coroner found his hospital care was of good standard with appropriate multidisciplinary management, and discharge timing was suitable despite postoperative complications including visual loss, diabetes insipidus, and behavioural changes. Care at Long Bay Hospital was adequate with appropriate twice-daily observations for a step-down facility. The underlying cause of the fatal arrhythmia could not be definitively determined, though possible contributors included prior antipsychotic medication exposure (long QT syndrome risk) or the pituitary tumour itself. No deficiency in care or treatment contributed to death. The coroner found no basis to criticise clinical decision-making or management.