Coroner's Court of Western Australia

Inquest into the Death of Robert Paul RODDA

Inquest into the Death of Robert Paul RODDA

Delivered on :2 May 2018

Delivered at : Perth

Finding of : Deputy State Coroner Vicker

Recommendations :N/A

Orders/Rules : N/A

Suppression Order : N/A

Summary : The deceased at the time of his death was a sentenced prisoner. He was in the custody of the Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Corrective Services under s16 of the Prisons Act 1971.

The deceased had been declared a terminally ill prisoner in 2012 due to the severity of his cardiac and respiratory disease, and in December 2012 had first been diagnosed with an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Surgery was contraindicated due to the severity of the deceased’s other morbidities.  Following further review in 2015 it was considered the aneurysm had enlarged to the extent there was a danger of rupture.  On the way to Royal Perth Hospital he was diverted and admitted to Fiona Stanley Hospital to evaluate his requirements for surgery.

On 22 September 2015 the indications were his abdominal aortic aneurysm had ruptured and he was taken to theatre for emergency surgery to repair the rupture. The necessary surgery caused the deceased to suffer renal failure requiring permanent dialysis.  On 12 October 2015 the deceased withdrew himself from dialysis and palliative care was commenced.  The deceased was 62 years of age.

The Deputy State Coroner after considering all of the evidence found the deceased’s supervision, treatment and care was appropriate and clearly better than if he would have able to manage in the community at large.

The Deputy State Coroner found the deceased died on 14 October 2015 at Fiona Stanley Hospital as a result of multi-organ failure following surgical repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm and death occurred by way of natural causes.

Catch Words : Death in Custody : Palliative Care : Complicated medical and mental health history : Natural Causes

 


Last updated: 30-Apr-2019

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