Coroner probes care after patient Peter Robert Corner dies day after leaving hospital
A grieving widow has heard from a coronial inquest into the death of her Adelaide builder husband, who died just a day after leaving hospital.
A grieving widow had been told her husband was “very unlucky” after he died the day after leaving hospital with heart disease, a coroner’s inquest has heard.
Peter Robert Corner died on the evening of October 13 in 2022, shortly after his daughter heard him “snoring in an unusual manner” and was unable to wake him.
The 60-year-old was rushed to hospital but medical workers were unable to save him and a post mortem examination — limited to targeted chest examination — concluded ischaemic heart disease with cardiomegaly to be the cause of death, the inquest heard.
The day before, cardiologist Sam Lehman conducted a coronary angiogram pressure study which showed Mr Corner had significant blockage and the pair discussed treatment before Mr Corner left Flinders Private Hospital.
A coronial inquest is underway to explore the adequacy of care provided to Mr Corner, what was conveyed to him about his condition and whether his death was preventable, among other questions.
Mr Corner’s wife Brigitte told the inquest she received a phone call from Dr Lehman after her husband’s death, saying he died of heart fibrillation and ischaemic heart disease and that he was “very unlucky”.
“How do you tell your kids your dad was just unlucky?” she said tearfully.
Mr Corner, a father of four who worked as a builder, had a history of high cholesterol, osteoarthritis and a family history of heart disease.
In July 2022, he complained of chest tightness and in September that pain became worse.
On Wednesday, Dr Lehman told the inquest following the coronary angiogram pressure study on October 12 he recommended Mr Corner be admitted to hospital that night so he could have a coronary artery bypass surgery within the coming days but his patient — while content to have the surgery – opted to return home that night.
Dr Lehman said he did not make him sign a form to say he was leaving against medical advice.
He told the inquest the risk of Mr Corner dying in the week that it would take to organise surgery was “very low” but “coronary disease can change in a second”.
Deputy State Coroner Naomi Kereru questioned why there was an absence of a note in those circumstances.
Dr Lehman conceded that he should have documented the matter better and said he has changed his practices since.
Mrs Corner said when she picked her husband up from the hospital on October 12, he told her he was offered to stay to have a chat with someone there that night.
“But he was very sure that he was happy with coming home and that an appointment was made with the surgeon in two weeks time and he needed to come home, tie up any loose ends within six weeks,” she told the inquest.
It was heard Mr Corner gave her the impression he had time on his side.
The inquest continues on Thursday.
