Coroner's Court of Western Australia

Inquest into the Death of Ronald Alan GIBLETT

Inquest into the Death of Ronald Alan GIBLETT

Delivered on :4 April 2019

Delivered at : Perth

Finding of : Deputy State Coroner Vicker

Recommendations :N/A

Orders/Rules : N/A

Suppression Order : N/A

Summary : The deceased at the time of his death was a sentenced prisoner. On the morning of 5 November 2016 the deceased was located in his cell at the Karnet Prison Farm by another prisoner. Despite a prompt response once discovered, the deceased could not be revived. He was 79 years of age.

The deceased had an extensive medical history which included a family history of heart disease on both his parents’ sides. The deceased attended the Mead Medical Centre until his imprisonment in December 2013. He had suffered ischaemic heart disease with previous myocardial infarctions, stents and coronary artery bypass surgery. He had hypertension, high cholesterol, kidney disease, had a parathyroidectomy, appendectomy, right knee replacement with arthritis in his right hip, gout, osteomyelitis, he had suffered a hernia, he had gastroesophageal reflux disease, coeliac disease and benign prostatic hypertrophy.

He was regularly reviewed for his health while in custody and had relatively few concerns with respect to his cardiac disease. At the times he did complain he was appropriately assessed and monitored. The deceased appeared well once located at Karnet Prison Farm and was able to continue with his hobbies related to beekeeping and lathing which had been a relatively new hobby preceding his incarceration. The deceased’s prison medical record indicated he had regular annual reviews andsix monthly cardiovascular care plan reviews.

On 6 February 2017 the forensic pathologist completed all investigations which included histology and confirmed changes to the heart muscle. The nodules in the spleen showed features of B-cell malignant lymphoma. Neuropathology indicated no significant abnormalities, microbiology showed the presence of some bacterial organisms not considered to be of significance to the death, while toxicology indicated the presence of medications consistent with the deceased’s known medical care. Following assessment of those investigations the forensic pathologist was of the opinion the cause of death for the deceased was best described as valvular and ischaemic heart disease in association with coronary arteriosclerosis.

The Coroner was satisfied the deceased’s naturally occurring coronary arteriosclerosis was appropriately dealt with during his incarceration and that he died without warning as the result of a fatal cardiac arrest, the effects of which could not be reversed.

The Coroner concluded the deceased died from natural causes.

The Coroner was satisfied the deceased’s supervision, treatment and care while in custody were of a good standard.

Catch Words : Death in Custody : Natural Causes.


Last updated: 30-Apr-2019

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