A Tasmanian coroner has told the state’s doctors to be vigilant of sepsis, touching on a series of deaths following undiagnosed cases.
Coroner Rod Chandler published findings on two deaths that occurred just hours after the patients were discharged from hospital with undiagnosed sepsis, a bacterial infection of the blood.
Mr Chandler found at least three Tasmanians have died since 2010 after doctors failed to diagnose infections.
The findings into the death of 72-year-old Barry Lindsay Tetley in April 2013 drew similar conclusions to the findings published earlier this week into the death of 59-year-old Christine Anne Inches.
The Boomer Bay man presented at the Royal Hobart Hospital with back pain, but the following day was recorded as feeling “much better” and his pain was controlled.
Mr Tetley was discharged, but died later the same day.
“The medical staff should have appreciated that he was suffering from sepsis and should not have discharged him,” Mr Chandler said.
“By doing so, Mr Tetley was denied the best chance of surviving his illness.”
Mr Chandler reminded doctors to be vigilant, saying he had investigated a series of deaths where sepsis was not detected early.
In a statement, Hobart Private Hospital’s general manager, John Amery, said changes in sepsis diagnosis and management had been adopted since Ms Inches’ died.
The coroner found Ms Inches died about 10 hours after being discharged from the Hobart Private Hospital.
She was given medication and blood tests for her abdominal pain, but sepsis was ruled out.
In his findings, Mr Chandler said she should have been diagnosed with sepsis.
The Royal Hobart Hospital has been contacted for comment.