Helen Cleary (69), Foynes, Co Limerick, died on June 30th, 2010, 11 days after suffering a cardiac arrest and nearly two months after being admitted to the Limerick hospital. Her family claim they were told by one doctor that a blockage in her tracheostomy or breathing tube caused their mother’s cardiac arrest. However the hospital claimed the cause was unclear. Last night, following a two- day inquest into her death, coroner Dr Tony Casey recommended that patients with tracheostomy tubes be fitted with an apnoeic alarm in wards. The coroner recorded a narrative verdict that Mrs Cleary a mother of five, died as a result of a hypoxic brain injury associated with the inner cannula tracheostomy tube being partially displaced and blocked with blood and sputum. (Times) >
Filed under: Dying, Limerick
