Deceased
Hugh Peter Bourke
Demographics
68y, male
Coroner
Coroner Dr Jane Hendtlass
Date of death
2011-01-06
Finding date
2011-09-07
Cause of death
Hypoxic brain injury and ischaemic heart disease
AI-generated summary
Hugh Peter Bourke, a 68-year-old man with a history of myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation, and recent abdominal surgery, suffered a cardiac arrest at home on 6 January 2011. He had undergone cholecystectomy in December 2010, complicated by cholecystoduodenal fistula, followed by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and stent placement on 31 December 2010. He was discharged on antibiotics four days before his arrest. The coroner found no evidence of preventable error. The clinical lesson emphasises appropriate post-operative follow-up and medication management in elderly patients with cardiac risk factors, particularly those undergoing complex biliary interventions. Documentation of clinical decision-making regarding continued antibiotic therapy and cardiac monitoring post-discharge would have been relevant.
AI-generated summary — refer to original finding for legal purposes. Report an inaccuracy.
Specialties
Drugs involved
FORM 37 Rule 60(1)
FINDING INTO DEATH WITH INQUEST Section 67 of the Coroners Act 2008 Court reference: 78/11
Inquest into the Death of HUGH PETER BOURKE
Delivered On: 7 September 2011 Delivered At: Melbourne
Hearing Dates: 7 September 2011 Findings of: Coroner Dr Jane Hendtlass Representation: L/S/C Amanda Maybury Place of death/
Suspected death: Northern Hospital, 185 Cooper Street, Epping, Victoria 3076
1of3
FORM 37 Rule 60(1)
FINDING INTO DEATH WITH INQUEST Section 67 of the Coroners Act 2008
Court reference: 78/11 In the Coroners Court of Victoria at Melbourne I, JANE HENDTLASS, Coroner having investigated the death of: Details of deceased:
Surname: BOURKE
First name: HUGH
Address: 30 Bicknell Court, Jacana, Victoria 3047
AND having held an inquest in relation to this death on 7 September 2011 at Melbourne
Ez
find that the identity of the deceased was HUGH PETER BOURKE and death occurred on 6th January, 2011
at Northern Hospital, 185 Cooper Street, Epping, Victoria 3076 from
la. HYPOXIC BRAIN INJURY 1b. ISCHAEMIC HEART DISEASE
In the following circumstances:
accommodation at 30 Bicknell Court in Jacana. Mr Bourke’s medical history imcluded
myocardial infarction, intellectual impairment, atrial fibrillation, supraventricular tachycardia,
anxiety and cholangitis associated with a chronic cough. His general practitioner was Dr Bao
Nguyen.
Hospital and was diagnosed with a cholecysto-duodenal fistula, His medication was adjusted and
his cough continued.
2 of 3
3, On 20 December 2010, Dr Nguyen noted continuing cough and prescribed antibiotics but, on 22 December, he referred Mr Bourke for further investigation, On 31 December, Mr Bourke underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and stent placement, On 4 January 2011, he was discharged home on antibiotics.
At 8.40am on 6 January 2011, Mr Bourke suffered a cardiac arrest at home while he was sitting at the breakfast table after taking his morning medication. He was resuscitated and transferred to the Intensive Care Unit at Northern Hospital in Epping. However, his prognosis was poor and active treatment was withdrawn.
At 2.55pm on 6 January 2011, Hugh Bourke died.
The forensic pathologist who inspected the body and CT scans, formed the opinion that a reasonable cause of death in the circumstances would be hypoxic brain injury and ischaemic
heart disease.
ae Dr Jane H¢ndtlass Coroner
7 September 2011
disease.
Signature:
3 of 3
A 70-year-old man died in prison custody from organising diffuse alveolar damage in the setting of pre-existing hypertensive heart disease, right ventricular hypertrophy, coronary artery atherosclerosis, and COPD. He pre…
Arthur Andrianakis, 51, died from hyperthermia of unknown cause with cardiac hypertrophy and COPD. He presented to hospital with respiratory distress following police custody for assaulting his mother. Initial diagnosis …
Baby Minahil Bhatti, a five-month-old with congenital non-compaction cardiomyopathy, died from septic shock with multi-organ failure and probable meningitis. She presented to Royal Children's Hospital on 27 July 2016 wit…
Source and disclaimer
This page reproduces or summarises information from publicly available findings published by Australian coroners' courts. Coronial is an independent educational resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of any coronial court or government body.
Content may be incomplete, reformatted, or summarised. Some material may have been redacted or restricted by court order or privacy requirements. Always refer to the original court publication for the authoritative record.
Copyright in original materials remains with the relevant government jurisdiction. AI-generated summaries are for educational purposes only and must not be treated as legal documents. Report an inaccuracy.