Investigation and inquest
On the 21st day of October 2019 I opened an investigation touching the death of Simon Anthony Delahunty aged 46 years old. I opened an inquest on the 29th October 2019. The inquest concluded on the 30th January 2020. The conclusion of the inquest was “Suicide contributed to by the circumstances within his life”. The medical cause of death was 1a Hypoxic Brain Injury, 1(b) Hypoxic Cardiac Arrest and 1(c) Overdose of Oramorph ,Midazolam, Paracetamol been and Vodka..
Circumstances of the death
On the Second of October 2019 Simon Anthony Delahunty took an overdose of medication prescribed for another patient who had recently died at the address. The medications were part of end of life care that had been left at the address . It is likely that Mr Delahunty’s actions were impulsive as he had made arrangements to stay for some time at this address.
Coroner’s concerns
There are no arrangements or guidance concerning the collection or disposal of unused end of life prescription medication.