Patient death at hospital that had no doctors for four days ‘wholly preventable’: coroner
David Freeman died after experiencing an acute bronchial asthma exacerbation triggered by a non-allergic hypersensitivity reaction to aspirin
A patient has died at a hospital with no doctors after a telehealth GP prescribed aspirin without knowing of his NSAID hypersensitivity, a coroner has found.
David Freeman, 46, died from an acute bronchial asthma exacerbation triggered by a non-allergic hypersensitivity reaction to aspirin at the 18-bed Tenterfield Hospital in northern NSW.
According to deputy NSW coroner Joan Baptie, the hospital’s staffing was “untenable” after it had cut nurse numbers from three to two per shift.
It relied on locum doctors.
