Deceased
Travis Wayne Freeman
Demographics
31y, male
Coroner
Coroner H C Alsop
Date of death
2007-06-13
Finding date
2010-08-23
Cause of death
aspiration pneumonia
AI-generated summary
Travis Wayne Freeman, a 31-year-old man with cerebral palsy, scoliosis, and epilepsy, died from aspiration pneumonia at Warragul Hospital on 13 June 2007, five days after admission for acute pneumonia. He was a high-dependency resident in a Department of Human Services community residential unit and had a history of recurrent pneumonia hospitalizations. The finding indicates he was admitted acutely unwell and did not respond to treatment. While aspiration pneumonia was the immediate cause, the coroner's finding does not detail specific clinical management decisions, potential failures in care, or preventability factors. For clinicians, this case highlights the vulnerability of individuals with cerebral palsy and dysphagia to recurrent aspiration pneumonia and the importance of preventive swallowing assessments, feeding protocols, and early aggressive pneumonia management in this high-risk population.
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Specialties
FORM 37 Rule 60(1)
FINDING INTO DEATH WITH INQUEST Section 67 of the Coroners Act 2008 Court Reference: 2224/07 In the Coroners Court of Victoria at Morwell
TH.C.H Alsop, Coroner having investigated the death of:
Details of deceased:
Surname: Freeman First name: Travis Wayne Address: 26 Neerim St DROUIN Victoria 3818 AND having held an inquest in relation to this death on 23rd August, 2010 at Latrobe Valley
find that the identity of the deceased was Travis Wayne Freeman and death occurred on 13th June 2007 at Warragul.
From,
la Aspiration pnumonia
lb Cerebral palsy
lc -Epilepsy
Id Multiple past pnumonia's In the following circumstances:-
I find the identity of the deceased was Travis Wayne Freeman and that death occurred at Watragul Hospital on 13" June, 2007 from aspiration pneumonia, allocated with cerebral palsy and epilepsy.
Travis Wayne freeman, born 19" J. anuary, 1976 was a resident at 26 Neerim Street a Department of Human Services, Community Residential Unit for approximately 13 years.
He suffered from a large number of medical complaints. The main conditions being, cerebral palsy, scoliosis and epilepsy, His conditions meant that he was classed as high dependant of care. ,
Asa result of Mr Freeman’s conditions he was susceptible to contracting pneumonia on a regular basis and as a result was hospitalised on a regular basis. On 8" June, 2007 Mr Freeman was admitted to West Gippsland Hospital with acute pneumonia. He was very ill and did not respond to ae He subsequently died on 13" June, 2007. .
Police attendedthe hospital on the day ofthis death and found there were no suspicious circumstances.
And Iso 7
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Louise Hayes, a 49-year-old woman with cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and dysphagia, died from aspiration pneumonia at Kilmore & District Hospital. She had experienced deteriorating health in 2020 with increased seizures and …
A 56-year-old man with congenital microcephaly, intellectual disability, dysphagia and recurrent aspiration pneumonia died from aspiration pneumonia whilst receiving palliative care in hospital. He had multiple episodes …
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