INQUIRY UNDER THE FATAL ACCIDENTS AND INQUIRIES (SCOTLAND) ACT 1976 INTO THE SUDDEN DEATH OF CATHERINE HATTIE [2012] ScotSC 10 (30 January 2012)

INQUIRY UNDER THE FATAL ACCIDENTS AND INQUIRIES (SCOTLAND) ACT 1976 INTO THE SUDDEN DEATH OF CATHERINE HATTIE [2012] ScotSC 10 (30 January 2012)

Catherine Hattie died as a result of an accidental fall in the hospital toilet, which led to fatal chest and abdominal injuries. The accident occurred while she was under the supervision of a nursing auxiliary, who briefly turned away. The Sheriff found that reasonable precautions whereby the accident might have been avoided included the auxiliary remaining in close proximity or returning Mrs Hattie to a sitting position before turning away. There was no evidence of systemic defects contributing to the death, but intravenous fluids should have been administered sooner after the fall.

Citation
[2012] ScotSC 10
Parties
Applicant: Crown (Procurator Fiscal); Interested Party: Family of Mrs Catherine Hattie; Interested Party: Dr. Gary Wong and Dr. Aileen Helps; Interested Party: Greater Glasgow Health Board (GGHB)
Jurisdiction
Scotland
Judgment Date
30 January 2012
Procedural Posture
Fatal Accident Inquiry / Determination After Full Evidentiary Hearing
Outcome
Death determined to be accidental, with findings on reasonable precautions and relevant facts.
Legal Topics
Fatal Accident Inquiry, Hospital Negligence, Patient Care, Accidental Death, Medical Record Keeping
Coronial Law Medical Law Public Health Law Fatal Accident Inquiry Hospital Negligence Patient Care Accidental Death Medical Record Keeping

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Parties

Crown (Procurator Fiscal)

Applicant

Family of Mrs Catherine Hattie

Interested Party

Dr. Gary Wong and Dr. Aileen Helps

Interested Party

Greater Glasgow Health Board (GGHB)

Interested Party

Procedural Posture

Fatal Accident Inquiry / Determination After Full Evidentiary Hearing

Legal Issues

  1. 1 What were the circumstances of Catherine Hattie's death?
  2. 2 What was the cause of death?
  3. 3 Were there reasonable precautions whereby the death or accident might have been avoided?

Ratio Decidendi

Catherine Hattie died as a result of an accidental fall in the hospital toilet, which led to fatal chest and abdominal injuries. The accident occurred while she was under the supervision of a nursing auxiliary, who briefly turned away. The Sheriff found that reasonable precautions whereby the accident might have been avoided included the auxiliary remaining in close proximity or returning Mrs Hattie to a sitting position before turning away. There was no evidence of systemic defects contributing to the death, but intravenous fluids should have been administered sooner after the fall.

Court Disposition

Death determined to be accidental, with findings on reasonable precautions and relevant facts.

Orders

  • No recommendations for systemic changes.
  • Noted that intravenous fluids should have been administered sooner after the fall.