Deceased
Patricia Gladys Parkes
Demographics
62y, female
Coroner
Coroner Kim M. W. Parkinson
Date of death
2011-10-06
Finding date
2012-06-04
Cause of death
Metastatic Breast Cancer
AI-generated summary
Patricia Parkes, a 62-year-old woman with autism and severe intellectual disability, died from metastatic breast cancer at a palliative care unit. She had resided in residential care since childhood with substantial family support. Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004, her condition became metastatic in August 2011. She received appropriate medical, nursing, and palliative care throughout her illness, both at home and in the palliative care unit where she was admitted 6 days before death. The coroner found her care and management to be reasonable and appropriate. This case demonstrates best practice in palliative care for vulnerable persons with complex needs, with no clinical lessons identified regarding preventability or care failures.
AI-generated summary — refer to original finding for legal purposes. Report an inaccuracy.
Specialties
Court Reference: 3775/2011
Form 37 Rule 60(1) Section 67 of the Coroners:Act 2008
Inquest into the Death of ; PATRICIA PARKES
Delivered On:
Delivered At:
Hearing Dates:
Findings of:
Police Coronial Support Unit:
4 June 2012
Melbourne
4 June 2012
Leading Senior Constable Tania Cristiano
bors
I, K. M. W. PARKINSON, Coroner having investigated the death of PATRICIA PARKES
AND having held an inquest in relation to this death on 4 Junc 2012
find that the identity of the deceased was PATRICIA GLADYS PARKES born on 14 April 1949
and the death occurred on 6 October 2011
‘at Tattersalls Palliative Care Unit, 125 Golf Links Road, Frankston, Victoria 3199
from:
la. METASTATIC BREAST CANCER
in the following circumstances:
Ms Patricia (“Patsy”) Parkes was born on 14 April 1949. She was 62 years old at the time of her death, Patsy resided in residential care sincc age nine years with extensive support being provided by her family, She initially resided at Jancfield and more recently has residéd in a
community care unit provided by Focus Support Services (Kindalin) at Red Hill.
Patsy was a person in care as defined by Section3(d) of the Coroners Act 2008 (“the Act”) and accordingly her death was reportable pursuant to Section4(c) of that Act. An inquest into her
death is mandatory pursuant to SectionS2(2)(b) of the Act.
Patsy had a medical history of autism and severe intellectual disability. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004. Her condition deteriorated becoming metastatic in August 2011.
At the instance of her family and her carers, Patsy was provided with caring and appropriate treatment during her lifetime and during her illness. She was provided with medical and nursing support at home and palliative care. She was admitted to the palliative care unit on 30
September 2011. Patsy died on 6 October 2011.
An inspection and report was undertaken by Dr Melissa Baker, Forensic Pathologist with the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine. Dr Baker states that a reasonable medical cause of
death was 1a. Metastatic Breast Cancer.
lam satisfied that Patsy’s care and management was reasonable and appropriate.
2af3
Metastatic Breast Cancer.
I direct that a copy of this finding be provided to the following: The family of Ms Patricia Parkes Manager, Focus Support Services, Red Hill
Interested parties,
Signature:
Kuh
K. M, W. PARKINSON CORONER 5 June 2012
3of3 .
An 85-year-old man died of aspiration pneumonia in a prison healthcare setting while receiving palliative care. He had experienced a stroke two years prior resulting in cognitive decline and required assistance with all …
Anthony Joseph Moore, 71, died from complications of rib fractures, liver laceration and pneumothorax sustained in a fall at Bundoora Park on 15 August 2025. While being assisted by a disability support worker near a ben…
Gerald Ridsdale, a 90-year-old man incarcerated at Port Phillip Prison, died from ischaemic and valvular heart disease following a period of palliative care. He had multiple chronic conditions including congestive cardia…
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.