Coroner's Finding: VASIC Radisav

CORONERS ACT, 2003 SOUTH AUSTRALIA FINDING OF INQUEST An Inquest taken on behalf of our Sovereign Lady the Queen at Adelaide in the State of South Australia, on the 16th day of October 2009 and the 30th day of August 2010, by the Coroner’s Court of the said State, constituted of Mark Frederick Johns, State Coroner, into the death of Radisav Vasic.

The said Court finds that Radisav Vasic aged 72 years, late of 27a Bond Street, Welland, South Australia died at Welland, South Australia on the 8th day of August 2008 as a result of ischaemic heart disease. The said Court finds that the circumstances of his death were as follows:

1. The circumstances surrounding Mr Vasic’s death 1.1. Mr Vasic died on 8 August 2008. He was 72 years of age. He had a history of hypertension, non-insulin-dependent diabetes and hypercholesterolemia. He had suffered a mild cardiac infarction in 1993 and had been diagnosed with ischaemic heart disease. He was prescribed Atenolol, Lipitor, Anginine and Felodur. In 2006 a stent was placed in the mid right coronary artery.

1.2. In the months leading up to his death Mr Vasic was being treated by Dr Vladan Jankovic. Dr Jankovic saw Mr Vasic approximately once a week to monitor his health and medications. Dr Jankovic referred Mr Vasic for an echocardiogram at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital on 17 July 2008 and the echocardiogram was carried out on 30 July 2008. Dr Jankovic saw Mr Vasic the following day, 1 August 2008.

1.3. The medical notes reflect that the echocardiography report was discussed and Mr Vasic was to return to the surgery in one week. The notes describe that he was complaining of an atypical chest pain.

1.4. On 8 August 2008 at approximately 5:10am Mr Vasic telephoned his nephew and spoke with his nephew's wife. He said that he was feeling unwell and his nephew travelled to Mr Vasic's home. Upon arrival Mr Vasic was standing near the front gate holding himself up. Family members called an ambulance and shortly thereafter Mr Vasic collapsed and became unresponsive. Family members performed CPR until the South Australian Ambulance service arrived. Unfortunately, Mr Vasic was found to be deceased by the ambulance crew upon their arrival.

2. Cause of death 2.1. A post-mortem examination was carried out by Dr Neil Langlois, forensic pathologist, on 12 August 2008. He prepared an autopsy report which was admitted as Exhibit C2a. The post-mortem report records the cause of death as ischaemic heart disease and accordingly I find ischaemic heart disease to be the cause of Mr Vasic’s death.

3. Recommendations 3.1. I have no recommendations to make in this matter.

Key Words: Ischaemic Heart Disease In witness whereof the said Coroner has hereunto set and subscribed his hand and Seal the 30th day of August, 2010.

State Coroner Inquest Number 30/2009 (1109/2008)