Inquest into the Death of Robert Paul RODDA

62y · Male·Multi-organ failure following surgical repair of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm

Robert Paul Rodda, a 62-year-old long-term prisoner with extensive medical comorbidities including ischaemic heart disease, COPD, and a known abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), presented with chest pain in September 2015. Imaging revealed his AAA had ruptured. Emergency open repair was performed, during which prolonged aortic clamping caused acute renal failure requiring permanent dialysis. Post-operatively, he developed acute pulmonary oedema, atrial fibrillation, and cardiac ischaemia. The patient voluntarily declined dialysis on 12 October 2015 and transitioned to palliative care. He died 2 days later from multi-organ failure. The coroner found the medical care provided to be appropriate and comprehensive, with no preventable deficiencies identified. The death resulted from natural causes—the combination of his severe underlying cardiac and pulmonary disease, the unavoidable complications of emergency surgery, and the patient's autonomous decision to cease life-sustaining dialysis.