Finding into death of Anne Beeston

IN-THE CORONERS COURT OF VICTORIA | + AT MELBOURNE

Court Reference:2014 /749 .

FINDING INTO DEATH WITH INQUEST

Form 37 Rule 60(1) Section 67 of the Coroners Act 2008

Thquest.into the Death of: ANNE BEESTON

Delivered On: 16 JULY 2014

Delivered At: MELBOURNE Hearing Dates: 16 JULY 2014

Findings of: JAIN WEST, DEPUTY STATE CORONER

Police Coronial Support Unit: L/S/C TRACEY RAMSEY

I, IAIN WEST, Deputy State Coroner, having investigated the death of ANNE BEESTON AND having held an inquest into the death on 16 July 2014 , at MELBOURNE : find: the identity of the deceased was ANNE BEESTON born on 20 December 1955 and the death occurred on 7 February 2014 at 45 Buttercup Grove, Bundoora, Victoria 3083

from: 1 (a) COMPLICATIONS OF END STAGE ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE IN A WOMAN

WITH DOWN SYNDROME

‘in-the following circumstances:

1. Anne Beeston was aged 58 years at the time of her death and since birth, she had been a Ward of the State and client of the Department of Human Services, due to her suffering from Down Syndrome. Ms Beeston resided in Departmental residential housing at 45 Buttercup Grove, Bundoora, where she had lived for the previous 10 years. In addition, Ms Beeston suffered end stage Alzheimer’s dementia, having been diagnosed with the disease when she was 51, Graves’

" disease, osteoporosis and asthma. She received regular medical care from doctors at the Childs Road Medical Clinic, Mill Park.

2. At approximately 11.30 pm.on the 7 February 2014, Ms Beeston died in her bed in the presence of a staff member, Ms Beeston’s health had commenced to deteriorated from late December when she suffered a fall in her bedroom and although there was an initial period of improvement, she never fully recovered despite appropriate medical management. In these circumstances her death was not unexpected

3. No autopsy was performed in this case, as the coroner, in consultation with Dr Sarah Parsons, Forensic Pathologist with the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, directed that no autopsy.was required, Dr Parsons performed an external examination of Ms Beeston at the mortuary, reviewed the circumstances of her death, the post mortem CT scan and provided a written report of her findings, Dr Parson reported that in all the circumstances a reasonable cause of death appeared to be complications of end stage Alzheimer’s disease in a woman with Down syndrome,

4. Taccept the cause of death as determined by Dr Parsons. I find that Ms Beeston’s management whilst in the care the Department of Human Services, was within the parameters of reasonable health care practice and that no further investigation is necessary.

Signature:

TAIN WEST DEPUTY STATE CORONER Date: 16 July 2014