Johnstone, Inquiry Held Under Fatal Accidents and Sudden Deaths Inquiry (Scotland)Act 1986 [2002] ScotSC 76 (25th February, 2002)

Johnstone, Inquiry Held Under Fatal Accidents and Sudden Deaths Inquiry (Scotland)Act 1986 [2002] ScotSC 76 (25th February, 2002)

No criticism attaches to the fact that the deceased was not kept in hospital at the time of his attendance; outward signs of infection were not such as to point to its existence; medical staff acted appropriately based on available evidence.

Citation
[2002] ScotSC 76
Parties
Deceased: Samuel Johnstone; Witness: Hope House staff; Witness: Big Issue staff; Consultant Accident and Emergency Surgeon: Mr Ian Anderson; Senior House Officer: Miss Doran; Medical Staff: Surgical specialist registrar; Medical Staff: General practitioner
Jurisdiction
Scotland
Procedural Posture
Fatal Accident Inquiry / Determination
Outcome
Death due to multi-organ failure secondary to clostridial myonecrosis, necrotising fasciitis, and toxin producing organisms; no evidence of precautions or defects in system of work that could have avoided death.
Legal Topics
Fatal Accidents Inquiry, Medical Negligence, Drug Addiction, Hospital Treatment, Necrotising Fasciitis
Coronial Law Medical Law Fatal Accidents Inquiry Medical Negligence Drug Addiction Hospital Treatment Necrotising Fasciitis

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Parties

Samuel Johnstone

Deceased

Hope House staff

Witness

Big Issue staff

Witness

Mr Ian Anderson

Consultant Accident and Emergency Surgeon

Miss Doran

Senior House Officer

Surgical specialist registrar

Medical Staff

General practitioner

Medical Staff

Procedural Posture

Fatal Accident Inquiry / Determination

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether precautions could have avoided the death
  2. 2 Whether death was caused by a defect in a system of work
  3. 3 Adequacy of medical treatment provided

Ratio Decidendi

No criticism attaches to the fact that the deceased was not kept in hospital at the time of his attendance; outward signs of infection were not such as to point to its existence; medical staff acted appropriately based on available evidence.

Court Disposition

Death due to multi-organ failure secondary to clostridial myonecrosis, necrotising fasciitis, and toxin producing organisms; no evidence of precautions or defects in system of work that could have avoided death.