Coroner's Finding: Hanson, Sungwaan

64y · Female·stage IVB metastatic adenocarcinoma of the rectum

Sungwaan Hanson, a 64-year-old woman with a 35-year history of treatment-resistant schizophrenia, died from stage IVB metastatic adenocarcinoma of the rectum at the Roy Fagan Centre on 27 May 2020. She had been subject to a Mental Health Act treatment order at the time of her death. A rectal mass was identified on examination in November 2019, and CT imaging confirmed locally advanced disease. In consultation between Mental Health Services, Surgical Services, and the Public Guardian, a decision was made that Mrs Hanson was not a suitable candidate for curative treatment due to the distress it would cause given her mental health and cognitive impairment. She was referred to palliative care. The coroner found the standard of care and treatment provided at the Roy Fagan Centre to be entirely appropriate, and no recommendations for improvement were made.