Doctors didn’t perform routine scan ahead of man’s death
They wrongly assumed he had had an MI and 'overlooked' a head injury from a fall: Tasmanian coroner
Doctors’ failure to perform a routine CT scan on a man who later died in hospital from a brain haemorrhage “markedly reduced” his chances of survival, according to coronial findings.
Tasmanian Coroner Simon Cooper says it is unclear why Launceston General Hospital staff didn’t perform the procedure on Barry Alyn Lumley, who was misdiagnosed as having an MI.
The 81-year-old fell while pushing a shopping trolley at Meadow Mews Plaza in Launceston on 10 August 2019 and was taken in a confused state to hospital where a small swelling was detected on the back of his head.
In findings published last week, Mr Cooper said a doctor and consultant who assessed Mr Lumley when he arrived at the hospital seemingly concluded he had suffered an MI.
