Crowley, Re [2019] NICoroner 6 (28 May 2019)

Crowley, Re [2019] NICoroner 6 (28 May 2019)

The deceased died by her own act while the balance of her mind was disturbed, with death caused by combined toxicity of alcohol and multiple drugs; delay in transfer of medical notes between trusts did not affect outcome or treatment approach.

Citation
[2019] NICoroner 6
Parties
Deceased: Angela Crowley; Senior Social Work Practitioner: Mary Teresa McCreanor; Community Psychiatric Nurse: Paul Reid; Consultant Psychiatrist: Dr Ryan O'Neill; GP: Dr Hegarty; GP: Dr McLaughlin; GP: Dr Maire Harkin; GP: Dr Brown; SHO Emergency Department: Dr Declan Love; Consultant Psychiatrist: Dr John Caughey; Consultant Psychiatrist: Dr Caroline Donnelly; Senior Speciality Trainee: Dr Elaine Boyd; Mental Health Nurse: Ms Emma Sweeney; Mental Health Nurse: Caroline Fairley-Gribben; Agency Social Worker: Anne McShane; Serious Adverse Incident Reviewer: Agnes Dee
Jurisdiction
Northern Ireland
Judgment Date
28 May 2019
Procedural Posture
Inquest / Judgment
Outcome
Death by own act while balance of mind disturbed; combined alcohol and drug toxicity.
Legal Topics
Inquest Into Death, Mental Health Treatment, Information Sharing Between Trusts, Suicide, Medical Negligence
Coronial Law Mental Health Law Inquest Into Death Mental Health Treatment Information Sharing Between Trusts Suicide Medical Negligence

Case Brief

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Parties

Angela Crowley

Deceased

Mary Teresa McCreanor

Senior Social Work Practitioner

Paul Reid

Community Psychiatric Nurse

Dr Ryan O'Neill

Consultant Psychiatrist

Dr Hegarty

GP

Dr McLaughlin

GP

Dr Maire Harkin

GP

Dr Brown

GP

Dr Declan Love

SHO Emergency Department

Dr John Caughey

Consultant Psychiatrist

Dr Caroline Donnelly

Consultant Psychiatrist

Dr Elaine Boyd

Senior Speciality Trainee

Ms Emma Sweeney

Mental Health Nurse

Caroline Fairley-Gribben

Mental Health Nurse

Anne McShane

Agency Social Worker

Agnes Dee

Serious Adverse Incident Reviewer

Procedural Posture

Inquest / Judgment

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the deceased died by her own act while the balance of her mind was disturbed
  2. 2 Adequacy of mental health care and communication between trusts
  3. 3 Appropriateness of treatment decisions

Ratio Decidendi

The deceased died by her own act while the balance of her mind was disturbed, with death caused by combined toxicity of alcohol and multiple drugs; delay in transfer of medical notes between trusts did not affect outcome or treatment approach.

Court Disposition

Death by own act while balance of mind disturbed; combined alcohol and drug toxicity.

Orders

  • No further orders; recommendation for improved information sharing procedures across trusts.