A court is currently hearing how a man with Down’s Syndrome has died after a UK hospital after he was deprived of food for 10 days.
Jurors at the Manchester court have heard how Giuseppe Ulleri was admitted to hospital after a fall in his residence in Withington, Manchester.
Mr Ulleri was discovered injured by staff working for L’Arche, a company who looked after Mr Ulleri and supplied his living accommodation.
Having initially being discharged from hospital after scans did not show evidence of serious injury volunteers at L’Arche brought him back to hospital after showing signs of difficulty walking and swallowing.
The inquest revealed CT scans showing an X-ray and CT scan revealed fractures to the vertebrae in his neck, right hip and right wrist.
The coroner in the case explained that due to the risk of potential pulmonary aspiration Mr Ulleri was nil by mouth for part of his hospital stay and was being nourished by feeding tube.
The feeding tube was only in place for a day however, as the patient was uncomfortable and had difficulty using it.
Mr Ulleri died on March 20th after 10 days without food from aspiration pneumonia, which occurs when food, stomach acid or saliva is inhaled into the lungs. The inquest continues.
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