Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2015

Mary Hanson

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2015-0148, written 21 Apr 2015. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report21 Apr 2015
Reference2015-0148
DeceasedMary Hanson
CoronerClaire Hammond
Coroner areaPreston and West Lancashire
CategoryHospital Death (Clinical Procedures and medical management) related deaths
Sourcejudiciary.uk record · original PDF
Responses publishednone published

The report

Text recovered by OCR from a scanned PDF. OCR is imperfect: check anything you rely on against the source PDF. Reproduced verbatim, including the scan's own layout.

ANNEX A
REGULATION 28: REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS (1)
NOTE: This form is to be used after an inquest.

REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS
THIS REPORT [S BEING SENT TO:

1. Medical Director, LTHTR
2. Chief Executive, LTHTR

CORONER

| am Miss Claire Hammond, area coroner, for the coroner area of Preston and West
Lancashire.

CORONER’S LEGAL POWERS

| make this report under paragraph 7, Schedule 5, of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009
and regulations 28 and 29 of the Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013.
[HYPERLINKS]

INVESTIGATION and INQUEST

On 18 August 2014 | commenced an investigation into the death of Mary Anne Gemma
Hanson, 74 years of age. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 15
April 2015. The conclusion of the inquest was that Mary Anne Gemma Hanson died as a
result of rare but recognised complications of appropriate surgery, when she developed
intraventricular haemorrhage due to postoperative apoplexy in brain invasive pituitary
adenoma, which had been operated on by way of transphenoidal debulking surgery on
27 June 2014,

CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH

Mary Hanson was admitted to Royal Preston Hospital 27 June 2014 for elective surgery
to remove a large pituitary tumour. Although the procedure itself was routine, other than
for a cerebrospinal fluid leak, which was repaired, she developed a bleed post-
operatively, from which, despite the insertion of an external ventricular drain and a re-
exploration of the tumour, she failed to recover and she died on 15 August 2014.

Mary Hanson had been seen in combined pituitary clinic by REE consuttant
neurosurgeon, and , consultant endocrinologist on 2 June 2014, following

which a clinic letter was dictated by IJ At some point prior to surgery, a
‘capacity assessment proforma’ and ‘best interest proforma’ were filled in by Staff Nurse
—_— by reason of the fact that it was considered Mary Hanson lacked capacity
to make a decision about the need for surgery due to her inability to retain information.
Following that assessment, consent was taken by IEEE neurosurgical registrar,
using a ‘Consent Form 4' for adults who are unable to consent themselves.

CORONER’S CONCERNS

During the course of the inquest the evidence revealed matters giving rise to concern. In
my opinion there is a risk that future deaths will occur unless action is taken. In the
circumstances it is my statutory duty to report to you.

The MATTERS OF CONCERN are as follows. —

(1) Mary Hanson had been seen in combined pituitary clinic by HE consultant

neurosurgeon, and IE consultant endocrinologist on 2 June 2014. Although

evidence was that the risks of surgery would have been clearly

explained to both Mary Hanson and her daughter at that

consultation, and that he would have stressed that the risk of serious harm and

death is very small, Zs evidence was that they had not been advised

of a risk of death by any clinician, and that her knowledge as to the risk of death was
because of her own research carried out on the internet;

(2) There is no record in the medical records of that clinic appointment regarding what
risks and benefits were discussed;

(3) There are no patient information leaflets for patients considering pituitary surgery to
take home and digest, something EI considered should be provided;

(4) The clinic letter sent to Mary Hanson's GP following the clinic does not detail the
tisks and benefits of surgery;

(5) The ‘capacity assessment proforma’ does not have a box to fill in the date, nor a box
for the clinician's signature, or the signature of others consulted during the capacity
assessment process;

The ‘best interests proforma’ does not have a box to fill in the date, nor a box for the
clinician's signature, or the signature of other consulted during the capacity
assessment process;

The best interests proforma’ contains five boxes on the final page: “consideration of
the person's beliefs and values that would have been likely to influence [their]
decision if [they] had capacity; relevant circumstances [they] would take into account
if they were making the decision themselves; the identified risks of the proposed
treatment and any alternative treatments; the identified benefits of the proposed
treatment and any alternative available treatments; the outcome of the best interest
assessment, which should demonstrate the weighing of information, reasons for
discounting a particular point of view or the manner in which weight has been
applied to certain views. It should demonstrate your analysis and findings as the
named decision maker." These questions are clearly central to the best interests
assessment, yet they had not been completed by the Staff Nurse carrying out the
assessment and were all left entirely blank;

Given that GMC guidance on consent is that if a discussion regarding treatment is to
be delegated, the person to whom that task is delegated must be suitably trained
and qualified, have sufficient knowledge of the proposed treatment and understand
the risks involved, it is doubtful whether a staff nurse is likely to be the appropriate
person to complete the proforma and take such a decision;

(9) When Pe undertook the consent process on the day of surgery using
Consent Form 4, he did not notice that the key boxes on the best interests proforma
had not been completed;

(10)Consent Form 4 does not contain a section for the clinician to carry out the best
interests assessment, and in particular does not have anywhere to list the risks and
benefits of treatment, or the balancing of the two, something which both

and (thought it should.

& | ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN

In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and | believe you have the
power to take such action.

7 | YOUR RESPONSE

You are under a duty to respond to this report within 56 days of the date of this report,
namely by 16 June 2015. |, the area coroner, may extend the period.

Your response must contain details of action taken or proposed to be taken, setting out
the timetable for action. Otherwise you must explain why no action is proposed.

COPIES and PUBLICATION

| have sent a copy of my report to the Chief Coroner and Mary Hanson's daughter,

Lam also under a duty to send the Chief Coroner a copy of your response.

The Chief Coroner may publish either or both in a complete or redacted or summary
form. He may send a copy of this report to any person who he believes may find it useful
or of interest. You may make representations to me, the coroner, at the time of your
response, about the release or the publication of your response by the Chief Coroner.

[DATE] A ~~ [SIGNED BY CORONER]
| £7 20!) |

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