A coroner found that doctors at a private hospital took too long to transfer a woman to higher-level care after she began deteriorating following weight loss surgery.
The patient, who later died at a regional hospital’s ICU, was also affected by a key medical record error — her GP had incorrectly noted the type of mechanical heart valve she had, which impacted surgical planning and post-operative care.
The coroner ruled that she was not an appropriate candidate for surgery at the time, given her serious pre-existing conditions and heart disease. He said the decision to transfer her was delayed several hours despite clear signs of deterioration, and that medical documentation was inadequate.
The hospital involved said it has since strengthened its safety and admission processes.
