Highlights
Task:
Introduction
[1] This is an inquest into the death of Marcia Joy Loveday. Mrs Loveday was a frequent patient1 , over a number of years, of the Bundaberg Base Hospital. Her hospital records noted her known allergy to penicillin. She wore a MedicAlert® brand bracelet designed to notify persons to her known allergies.
[2] On 19 July 2010, she was in deteriorating health and was transported by ambulance to the Bundaberg Base Hospital, where she was admitted through the Accident & Emergency Department. Shortly after admission she was administered IV penicillin although she had a known2 allergy to penicillin. Within minutes of this injection she allegedly suffered an allergic reaction, known as an anaphylaxis, was then administered appropriate treatment, but a few days later she passed away.
[3] It is unclear whether she died as a result of the alleged anaphylaxis or her underlying conditions which caused her to present to the hospital. In addition, I will also explore the issue of notification of known allergies in an Emergency Department setting, and the system of MedicAlert bracelets, better described as ‘medical identification products’.
Tasks to be performed
[4] My first, and primary task under the Coroners Act 2003 is to make findings as to who the deceased person is, how, when, where, and what, caused them to die3 . In Mrs Loveday's case there is no real contest as to who, when, and where she died4 , my real task is to determine how and what caused her to die.
[5] Central to these issues are the questions of how Mrs Loveday’s known allergy to penicillin was not made known to, or enquired about by, medical personnel in the Accident & Emergency Department (notwithstanding Mrs Loveday was a long-standing patient of the Bundaberg Base Hospital and her allergy to penicillin was on that hospital’s records), she wore an ‘alert’ bracelet, and I need to consider what role the MedicAlert bracelet (or any such similar bracelet) has in such circumstances.
[6] Accordingly the List of Issues for this Inquest are:-
1. The information required by section 45(2) of the Coroners Act 2003, namely, when, where, and how Mrs Loveday died, and what caused her death. 1 Recent recorded attendances at Bundaberg Base Hospital (UR No. 011556) were 1987, 1990, 1995, 1996, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2010. Certain of these years had more than one attendance. Her first attendance is recorded as 1971 for the birth of one of her children.
2 This allergy was recorded on her hospital records 3 Coroners Act 2003 s. 45(2)(a) – (e) inclusive 4 See paragraphs [55] and [56] of these Findings Findings of the inquest into the death of Marcia Joy Loveday 1 2. Why Mrs Loveday's MedicAlert® bracelet was not observed and recognised prior to the intravenous administration to her of Ampicillin on the morning of 19 July 2010?
3 .Why Mrs Loveday's existing hospital file was not delivered to the Emergency Department at Bundaberg Base Hospital prior to the administration to her of Ampicillin?
4. Did Mrs Loveday suffer (i) anaphylaxis, or
(ii) an anaphylactoid reaction, or
(iii) anaphylactic shock, shortly after the intravenous administration of Ampicillin on the morning of 19 July 2010?
5. Did Mrs Loveday's reaction to the administration of intravenous penicillin on 19 July 2010 cause her cardiac arrest, from which she was resuscitated in the Emergency Department at Bundaberg Hospital on the morning of 19 July 2010? 6. Was Mrs Loveday's medical treatment in the Bundaberg Hospital from the time of her cardiac arrest on the morning of 19 July 2010 until her death in the hospital on 23 July 2010 in accordance with best practice, having regard to all the circumstances?
7. What condition, or conditions, caused Mrs Loveday's death on 23 July 2010? 8. Is it possible that the cardiac arrest suffered by Mrs Loveday in the Emergency Department on the morning of 19 July 2010 may have hastened or accelerated her death on 23 July 2010?
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