INQUIRY UNDER THE FATAL ACCIDENTS AND INQUIRIEIS (SCOTLAND) 1976 INTO THE SUDDEN DEATH OF MRS CHRISTINA WATSON DOUGALL [2011] ScotSC 80 (01 April 2011)

INQUIRY UNDER THE FATAL ACCIDENTS AND INQUIRIEIS (SCOTLAND) 1976 INTO THE SUDDEN DEATH OF MRS CHRISTINA WATSON DOUGALL [2011] ScotSC 80 (01 April 2011)

There was no causal connection between the fall and fracture sustained by Mrs Dougall on 11 July 2009 and her death on 15 July 2009. The death was due to acute myocardial infarction, left coronary artery thrombosis, and atherosclerotic coronary artery disease, all arising from pre-existing natural disease processes. No accident or defect in the system of working contributed to the death, and no reasonable precautions whereby the death might have been avoided were identified.

Citation
[2011] ScotSC 80
Parties
Deceased: Mrs Christina Watson Dougall (deceased); Procurator Fiscal Depute (for the Crown): Ms L Ward; Interested Party: Fife Health Board; Interested Party: Dr John McKenzie; Interested Party: Dr Andrew Coull; Interested Party: Professor Derrick Pounder; Interested Party: Staff Nurse MacAulay; Interested Party: Staff Nurse Hammon
Jurisdiction
Scotland
Judgment Date
01 April 2011
Procedural Posture
Fatal Accident Inquiry / Determination After Full Evidentiary Hearing
Outcome
No accident or defect in system contributed to death; death due to natural causes.
Legal Topics
Fatal Accident Inquiry, Hospital Death, Causation, Medical Evidence, Systemic Failures
Coronial Law Medical Law Fatal Accident Inquiry Hospital Death Causation Medical Evidence Systemic Failures

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Parties

Mrs Christina Watson Dougall (deceased)

Deceased

Ms L Ward

Procurator Fiscal Depute (for the Crown)

Fife Health Board

Interested Party

Dr John McKenzie

Interested Party

Dr Andrew Coull

Interested Party

Professor Derrick Pounder

Interested Party

Staff Nurse MacAulay

Interested Party

Staff Nurse Hammon

Interested Party

Procedural Posture

Fatal Accident Inquiry / Determination After Full Evidentiary Hearing

Legal Issues

  1. 1 What was the cause of Mrs Dougall's death?
  2. 2 Did any accident or defect in the system of working contribute to her death?
  3. 3 Were there reasonable precautions whereby the death might have been avoided?

Ratio Decidendi

There was no causal connection between the fall and fracture sustained by Mrs Dougall on 11 July 2009 and her death on 15 July 2009. The death was due to acute myocardial infarction, left coronary artery thrombosis, and atherosclerotic coronary artery disease, all arising from pre-existing natural disease processes. No accident or defect in the system of working contributed to the death, and no reasonable precautions whereby the death might have been avoided were identified.

Court Disposition

No accident or defect in system contributed to death; death due to natural causes.