Jessica Borton: Medication may have saved St Pat’s TA from death

A Tasmanian coroner has found that a beloved musician who worked as a teacher’s aide for 17 years may have been saved had a certain medication been administered following an injury.

St Patrick's College Launceston teacher's assistant and music tutor Jessica Borton, who died aged 43 on October 18, 2021. Picture: Facebook

The death of a beloved Tasmanian musician and teacher’s assistant who worked at a Catholic private school for nearly 17 years may have been prevented had a certain medication been administered in the wake of her ruptured Achilles tendon.

Launceston woman Jessica Rose-Aida Borton, 43, a long-term TA and music tutor at Prospect Vale’s St Patrick’s College, died on October 18 last year at Launceston General Hospital (LGH).

She had received surgery two day’s prior, which further heightened her risk of developing the condition which killed her.

Coroner Simon Cooper released his report into Ms Borton’s death on Monday, finding she died of a “massive pulmonary embolism” (where blood clot gets stuck in an artery in the lung, blocking blood flow to part of the lung), leading to hypoxic brain injury.

He found that if she had’ve been treated with chemical prophylaxis to prevent the development of venous thromboembolism (VTE), of which she was at heightened risk due to her ankle injury and obesity, “a different outcome for Ms Borton may have been possible”.

However, “there is no evidence that such prophylactic medication was even considered, let alone prescribed”.

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As such, Mr Cooper commented that the “association of ruptured Achilles tendons, consequent immobilisation and subsequent development of VTE needs, in my respectful view, to be better recognised and understood within the broader medical community”.

Mr Cooper set out the circumstances leading up to Ms Borton’s death.

On October 4 in a car park on Hobart Rd, Youngtown, Ms Borton fell over. The fall was “either... the consequence of, or caused, an injury to her right ankle,” which was treated with crutches and a moon boot.

“There is no evidence she was prescribed prophylactic blood-thinning medication. There is no evidence that such prophylactic medication was even considered,” Mr Cooper said.

“Accordingly, Ms Borton was immobilised before further medical review.”

On October 12, it was identified she had suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon.

She underwent surgery at LGH on October 16 and remained in hospital overnight.

About 8am on October 17, Ms Borton “suffered a fluttering in her chest associated with shortness of breath and diaphoresis (cold sweats)”.

She “became rapidly hypoxic, fell into unconsciousness and suffered cardiac arrest”.

Ms Borton never recovered.

At the time of her death, St Patrick’s College described Ms Borton as a “much-loved” TA and music tutor who gave nearly 17 years’ of “dedicated service”.

“Jessica is fondly remembered as a vibrant and uplifting member of staff, who nurtured the love and passion of music for so many in our community,” the school said.

Originally published as Jessica Borton: Medication may have saved St Pat’s TA from death