Inquest into the Death of David WAYMOUTH

47y · Male·Multi organ failure and sepsis complicating ulcerating colitis and intestinal obstruction in a man with severe constipation, methadone use and recent repair of a right hip fracture

David Waymouth, a 47-year-old prisoner with extensive medical comorbidities including hepatitis C, obesity, chronic pain requiring methadone, and depression, fell from his bed in prison and sustained a right hip fracture. He underwent successful total hip replacement but developed post-operative complications including pulmonary embolism, pneumonia, bowel obstruction, and severe constipation. He was readmitted to hospital eight hours after discharge following a second fall at the toilet. Despite multidisciplinary team care including ICU management and emergency colectomy, he developed peritoneal sepsis and multi-organ failure. The coroner found no deficiency in medical care provided during imprisonment or hospitalization. Post-operative complications in a patient with significant risk factors (obesity, liver disease) were the primary drivers of mortality.