A Flinders Medical Centre patient was allegedly given a fatal overdose of pain-killing medication by hospital staff and was not adequately monitored, a coronial inquest has heard. Stephen Robert Atkins, 53, died suddenly in the hospital in March 2015 just three days after being admitted to undergo tests for chronic neck pain. The court heard he was given the strong painkilling opioid medications fentanyl and oxycodone during his admission, which required close clinical monitoring but there were no assessment notes from the last few hours before his death. Counsel assisting the court, Kathryn Waite, told the inquest experts had formed the opinion that Mr Atkins’ suffered a fatal overdose of the medication.
