Terry Airey inquest: Sunshine Coast University Hospital death probe to begin
An inquest will examine how a patient died from toxic exposure during a routine procedure at a Sunshine Coast hospital.
An inquest will soon be underway to determine the circumstances behind the death of a patient at a Sunshine Coast hospital.
Deputy State Coroner Stephanie Gallagher will scrutinise the factors at play in the death of Terry Airey at the Sunshine Coast University Hospital, during hearings in Maroochydore Magistrates Court in early December.
The hearings, which were expected to run for five days, will analyse the situation which led to Mr Airey being exposed to toxic levels of betadine/iodine and ethanol as a result of a renal cyst sclerotherapy procedure carried out on June 8, 2022 at the hospital in Birtinya.
Renal cysts are sacs of fluid that form in the kidneys, while sclerotherapy involves draining these cysts and destroying the inner lining cells to prevent fluid from reappearing.
The inquest will determine whether the amount and type of sclerosant instilled at each installation was appropriate and what ultrasound imaging should have been used to confirm the sclerosant was fully drained.
The coroner will also analyse whether there were now adequate procedures in place at SCUH and other hospitals in Queensland to prevent similar deaths from occurring in the future.
The hearings were slated to begin on December 1.
A Sunshine Coast Health spokeswoman said they offered their sincerest condolences to the family at this difficult time.
“As this matter is subject to an upcoming inquest, we are unable to provide further details,” the spokeswoman said.
