Finding into death of Christine Maree Giliberto

57y · Female·Urosepsis due to an obstructing renal calculus in a woman with multiple comorbidities

Christine Giliberto, aged 57, died of urosepsis from an obstructing kidney stone. She lived in supported disability accommodation with severe lifelong disabilities (hydrocephalus, cerebral palsy, non-verbal). An obstructing ureter stone was discovered in October 2024. After multiple hospital admissions for complications, her family and medical team chose conservative management (no surgery) on 2 January 2025, given substantial surgical risks. She received palliative care at her residence. On 9 February 2025, she presented with respiratory distress from urosepsis and was hospitalized. Despite antibiotics, she deteriorated with a seizure, and comfort care was implemented with family support. She died on 21 February 2025. The coroner found all care entirely appropriate. This case demonstrates the complexity of managing urinary complications in profoundly disabled patients, the appropriateness of shared decision-making with families regarding surgical risk, and the value of timely palliative care when curative treatment is not viable.