A coroner has handed down a damning report on the Royal Hobart Hospital’s treatment of a man who died after suffering a serious bowel condition.
Coroner Simon Cooper found the man, 64, died in 2012 of a bowel obstruction that was not properly diagnosed.
Mr Cooper said the treatment given to the patient “fell well short of an acceptable standard”.
The man, known as Mr P, was suffering abdominal pain and had nausea and vomiting.
“There was no attempt to consider the more lethal complications of small bowel obstruction,” Mr Cooper said.
“No assessment seems to have been done appropriately, or indeed at all, and if it had – and the conclusion was that Mr P had a complicated bowel obstruction – he may well have survived.
“Mr P was admitted to hospital with a condition that had it been properly diagnosed and treated was eminently survivable.”
The coroner found Mr P was taken to the emergency department where it was recorded he was suffering from severe abdominal pain and nausea.
An emergency department consultant diagnosed a bowel obstruction and ordered X-rays and blood tests.
Hospital response to case facts ‘unsatisfactory’
The man was admitted, but hospital notes did not indicate which doctor saw Mr P nor what vital signs were measured – if any at all – nor whether there was any chest or cardiac examinations.
Blood test results were recorded but without comment, although increasing pain was noted.
The coroner said another plan was recorded to admit Mr P under a general surgeon with possible treatment, but there was no diagnosis or consideration of the complications of small bowel obstruction.
The Royal Hobart Hospital was given the opportunity to respond to these facts.
The coroner described the hospital’s response as “unsatisfactory”.
Mr Cooper said the consultant advised he was unable to offer any further information above the clinical notes as he could not recall any further matters.
A medico-legal adviser contacted the other doctor identified in Mr P’s treatment, and had forwarded her information.
The coroner said no response was made by that doctor despite an extension of time limit.