Inquest into the death of Bradley Murdoch

66y · Male·metastatic adenocarcinoma (palliated) from an unidentified primary tumour

Bradley John Murdoch, a 66-year-old prisoner serving a life sentence for murder, died in the palliative care unit of Alice Springs Hospital from metastatic adenocarcinoma on 15 July 2025. He had presented to the correctional centre clinic in November 2024 with non-specific symptoms including neck swelling, cough and shortness of breath. Initial chest X-ray was unremarkable but CT imaging identified mediastinal lymphadenopathy prompting urgent transfer to hospital and bronchoscopy, which revealed stage 4 metastatic adenocarcinoma. He declined radiotherapy due to requiring transfer to Darwin, accepted chemotherapy and was compassionately managed in custody until transfer to palliative care in late June 2025. The coroner found medical care was high quality and timely. No clinical errors were identified and symptom progression was consistent with aggressive cancer. Care was appropriate and compassionate throughout.