Australia - 3 dead after eating wild mushrooms, Leongatha, Victoria, Aug 2023 #8 *Arrest*

[drsleuth]

4m ago

Doctor Beth Morgan called to the witness box​

By Judd Boaz​

Our witnesses are following the chronological journey of Don and Gail Patterson through the medical system. First, the paramedic at their house. Then, the nurse at the local hospital. Now, doctor Beth Morgan is up next.

Key Event
2m ago

The rotating cast of barristers examining witnesses​

By Kristian Silva​

Some people might be wondering why we've seen a rotating cast of lawyers asking witnesses questions.

The three barristers for the prosecution are Nanette Rogers SC, Jane Warren and Sarah Lenthall. All three have conducted examinations today of witnesses.

This is not unusual. With a trial with a large number of witnesses, sometimes certain topics or witnesses are delegated to split up the workload.

Occasionally, the barrister who is speaking may whisper a question or seek clarification from the others.

The defence side is being led by barristers Colin Mandy SC and his junior Sophie Stafford.

So far, only Mr Mandy has conducted cross-examination in this trial.

Lawyers from the Office of Public Prosecutions are assisting the trio of prosecutors, while members of criminal defence firm Doogue and George are helping Mr Mandy and Ms Stafford.

Dying lunch guest's 'extremely abnormal' blood test results raised hospital alarm, court hears — as it happened

Ms Patterson is accused of murdering three relatives by serving them a beef Wellington laced with poisonous death cap mushrooms. Follow the trial in our live blog.

www.abc.net.au

 

[drsleuth]

now06.05 BST
Nurse recalls Don’s condition deteriorating

Shannon says Simon Patterson’s father was lethargic, had lowered blood pressure and describes his symptoms as “quite unusual” for “typical vomiting and diarrhoea.”

Shannon says Don’s blood test results were “abnormal” and a transfer to a tertiary hospital with a larger ICU was arranged.

There is no cross-examination.

Erin Patterson trial day six – as it happened

This blog is now closed

www.theguardian.com

 

[drsleuth]

1m ago

More from doctor Beth Morgan​

By Judd Boaz​

Dr Morgan was a medical registrar at Monash Health at the time of the poisonings.

She was the senior medical doctor on site overnight when Don and Gail Patterson arrived.

While her shift was due to end at 8am that day, she became involved in the treatment of the married couple.

Dr Morgan says Don exhibited mild right-side abdominal pain in addition to the nausea and diarrhoea, but with no blood produced in vomit or stool samples.

She says doctors were told about the beef Wellington lunch about Erin Patterson's house at this time.

Dying lunch guest's 'extremely abnormal' blood test results raised hospital alarm, court hears — as it happened

Ms Patterson is accused of murdering three relatives by serving them a beef Wellington laced with poisonous death cap mushrooms. Follow the trial in our live blog.

www.abc.net.au

 

[drsleuth]

3.08pm

Don was considerably sicker than Gail on arrival: Night nurse​

​

The next witness is Lisa Shannon, a registered nurse who worked for five years at Korumburra Hospital. At the time, she was working as an after-hours coordinator.

On July 30, 2023, about 10.10am, Shannon met with Don and Gail Patterson after they presented to the urgent care. Shannon said they had reported feeling unwell since the night before, after eating a beef and mushroom dish.

“Don was considerably sicker than Gail on arrival,” Shannon remembers.

She told the jury Don was struggling with nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea when they arrived. Gail indicated she still had diarrhoea but was not vomiting.

“I remained in the urgent care room, couldn’t leave, because that was quite busy with both of those patients,” she said.

Shannon said she cannulated the pair and gave them intravenous fluids. She also checked their heart rate and carried out an i-STAT test to examine their blood electrolytes.

“We’re looking at potassium, sodium. If you’ve got diarrhoea and vomiting, they’ll often become elevated or decreased for both Donald and Gail at that time; they were within normal limits,” she said.

Shannon said she spent most of the time taking Don to and from the bathroom every 10 minutes, and Gail back and forth.

At 12.15pm the couple was moved to the ward. Shannon said she continued to care for them within the ward, as they were so unwell that they required one-on-one care.

“It became obvious that Donald was becoming worse. He was very lethargic. Blood pressure was going down a little bit, his pulse was going up a little bit, which sort of shows signs of [him being] unable to tolerate keeping any fluids,” she said.

The jury heard this was unusual for someone suffering typical diarrhoea and vomiting.

After 3pm, Shannon said tests showed lactate levels in Don were very high, which signalled a metabolic disorder or liver failure and would require an immediate transfer out to a tertiary hospital with an emergency department and an ICU.

Shannon said her shift finished at 3.30pm and with it her involvement in Don and Gail’s care.

She finishes giving evidence and is excused.

Doctor reveals mushroom antidote was in short supply after fatal meal: Trial day six, as it happened

Of the four guests who dined on beef Wellington at Erin Patterson’s house in 2023, only one survived. On Tuesday, that guest – Ian Wilkinson – will tell his story for the first time when he takes the stand as a witness in the cook’s murder trial.

www.theage.com.au

 

[drsleuth]

1m ago06.09 BST
The prosecution’s next witness is Dr Beth Morgan

Morgan was involved in the care of Don and Gail Patterson at Dandenong Hospital as medical registrar when they arrived on 30 July via ambulance transfer.

Don and Gail Patterson, Erin Patterson’s in-laws. Photograph: no credit

Erin Patterson trial day six – as it happened

This blog is now closed

www.theguardian.com

 

[Eloise]

Being proud of your new home doesn't mean the same thing as being house-proud.

Also not showing someone through your new home is something that I would do.

I don't like showing off and while I might love my new home, feeling proud of what I own makes me feel uncomfortable.
What I own might make me happy, but I don't feel the need to impress others with what I own.


Maybe Erin felt the same way, hence the reluctance to "show off" the pantry.

Yes, I thought the same and wasn't sure why it was ever brought up as something to nitpick about. There is HouseProud™ and there is being proud of your new home that you've bought or built. Two different things, I'd never be the former as I don't see house-keeping, house decoration etc as part of my identity. Others do. But if I'd built myself a big house in the country, I'd be pretty proud of that as an accomplishment. I have a feeling Erin had the dehydrator in the pantry and probably didn't want it to be brought up as a topic, but as you say, maybe she just didn't want people poking through her pantry. I wouldn't, tbh

 

[drsleuth]

1m ago06.14 BST
Don Patterson had ‘borderline high’ pulse, doctor says

Morgan says Don was exhibiting mild abdominal pain on his right pain as well as nausea and diarrhoea when the pair arrived at Dandenong hospital.

Doctors were told about the beef wellington lunch, the court hears.

Morgan says testing showed Don’s vital signs were “relatively stable” and he did not have a fever. He had a pulse rate of 100 beats per minute which is “borderline high”, the court hears.

His respiratory rate was 23 breaths per minute which was “quite normal”, Morgan says. His oxygen levels were also normal.

Erin Patterson trial day six – as it happened

This blog is now closed

www.theguardian.com

 

[drsleuth]

4m ago

Prosecution has doctor explain medical terms to court​

​

By Judd Boaz​

Dr Morgan recounts Donald Patterson's vital signs during the morning after the lunch, which were relatively stable at the time.

She explains the venous blood gas (VBG) test that was given to Don, which among other things measures blood acidity and lactate levels.

Dr Rogers has Dr Morgan go over terms like "electrolytes", "calcium" and "sodium" for the court, and makes sure the definitions are clear and accurate.

Dr Rogers has Dr Morgan go over terms like electrolytes, calcium and sodium for the court, and makes sure the definitions are clear and accurate.

Before a break, Dr Rogers has Dr Morgan give a very specific definition for lactate, which she says is present when tissues are not receiving enough oxygen or cells are not metabolising correctly.

After this, the jury files out for a break

Dying lunch guest's 'extremely abnormal' blood test results raised hospital alarm, court hears — as it happened

Ms Patterson is accused of murdering three relatives by serving them a beef Wellington laced with poisonous death cap mushrooms. Follow the trial in our live blog.

www.abc.net.au

 

[katydid23]

Heather Wilkinson's diary shown to court​

By Kristian Silva​

A picture of Heather Wilkinson's colourful green 2023 diary is being shown to the court.

The page covers the week of July commencing 24 July, 2023.

On the critical date of June 29, it says "Erin's for lunch".

2m ago

Erin Patterson is watching Ian Wilkinson's evidence closely​

By Kristian Silva​

To paint the courtroom scene, Ian Wilkinson is seated in the witness box wearing a black vest and grey-coloured shirt.

To his right is a plastic water bottle he's brought into court, and in front he has a microphone and a computer screen to view any exhibits that might be shown to the court.

The church pastor's voice is soft, and at times he smiles warmly and chuckles when providing his answers to prosecutor Jane Warren.

Erin Patterson is in the court dock, about 10 metres away. She's listening intently, a neutral look on her face.

Key Event
3m ago

Lunch guest hoped 'relationship with Erin was going to improve'​

​

By Judd Boaz​

Mr Wilkinson says most of his interactions with Erin Patterson had come as social gatherings such as Christmas parties at Don and Gail Patterson’s house.

The prosecution begins to question Mr Wilkinson about the July 29 lunch.

He confirms an invite was extended at lunch to his wife Heather, although he wasn’t present at the time.

Ms Warren asks him how he and Heather reacted to the lunch invite.


He says the pair were "very happy to be invited".


Mr Wilkinson says the discovered soon after that Don, Gail and Simon Patterson had also been invited.

"Seemed like maybe our relationship with Erin was going to improve," he says.


THAT ^^^ is very sad. He and his wife thought the relationship was going to improve when in reality, EP was planning her Wellington recipe and dehydrating the Death Caps.

 

[drsleuth]

now15.44 AEST
Don returned abnormal liver function tests, doctor says

Nanette Rogers SC, the prosecutor, asks Morgan about tests conducted on Don.

Morgan says a venous blood gas test on Don found his pH level was low which meant the “blood was very acidic”.

A full blood examination showed the hemoglobin - attached to red cells to carry oxygen - was “quite high” at 200, the court hears.

Morgan says this was due to Don being dehydrated.

Don also returned abnormal liver function tests, the court hears.

Erin Patterson trial day six – as it happened

This blog is now closed

www.theguardian.com

 

[drsleuth]

Key Event
5m ago

'Very acidic' blood in poisoned lunch guest, court hears​

​

By Judd Boaz​

Nanette Rogers SC continues her questioning, asking Dr Morgan to tell the court about the results of the VBG test mentioned before the break.

"What we noted was that the pH was low, which means that the blood was very acidic," Dr Morgan says.

She says the acidity was likely caused by continual vomiting and diarrhoea, in addition to the elevated lactate.

Lactate levels were now at 10, when the normal range should be from 0.5 to 1.

"This was a very, very high lactate," she says.

​

By Judd Boaz​

Dr Morgan says Don also had abnormal readings for other markers such as potassium, urea and creatinine.

She says the fear of significant organ damage was raised as a result of these tests.

A liver function test was then run on Don, with markers such as the aspartate transaminase level measured.

The levels were highly abnormal, and Dr Morgan says the result made her very concerned about liver damage that Don had sustained.

Dying lunch guest's 'extremely abnormal' blood test results raised hospital alarm, court hears — as it happened

Ms Patterson is accused of murdering three relatives by serving them a beef Wellington laced with poisonous death cap mushrooms. Follow the trial in our live blog.

www.abc.net.au

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BBM Lactate levels were now at 10, when the normal range should be from 0.5 to 1. = WOW!!

 

[drsleuth]

6m ago15.44 AEST
Don Patterson returned abnormal liver function tests, doctor says

Nanette Rogers SC, the prosecutor, asks Morgan about tests conducted on Don.

Morgan says a venous blood gas test on Don found his pH level was low which meant the “blood was very acidic”.

A full blood examination showed the hemoglobin - attached to red cells to carry oxygen - was “quite high” at 200, the court hears.

Morgan says this was due to Don being dehydrated.

Don also returned abnormal liver function tests, the court hears.

Erin Patterson trial day six – as it happened

This blog is now closed

www.theguardian.com

 

[drsleuth]

Mushroom lunch’s sole surviving guest details deadly meal and its aftermath as trial of Erin Patterson continues

Ian Wilkinson, whose wife was among three who died, tells Victorian court the triple murder accused ‘just seemed like a normal person to me’

www.theguardian.com

run down of today so far

 

[drsleuth]

Key Event
2m ago

Don Patterson shows no improvement despite treatment​

By Judd Boaz​

IV fluids were administered to Don in an attempt to remedy the signs, after which another VBG test was run on Don.

But rather than improvement, the tests revealed that treatment had not worked.

"It suggested that there was a persistent, severe metabolic acidosis," Dr Morgan says.

Doctors worked to find possible causes for Don's illness, such as ischemic bowel disease.

Dr Morgan says when she spoke with Don, he seemed well and showed no abdominal tenderness.

She concluded that gastro brought on by food poisoning alone would not account for his illness.

As night closed, a CT scan was conducted, which was able to rule out an ischemic bowel.

Dying lunch guest's 'extremely abnormal' blood test results raised hospital alarm, court hears — as it happened

Ms Patterson is accused of murdering three relatives by serving them a beef Wellington laced with poisonous death cap mushrooms. Follow the trial in our live blog.

www.abc.net.au

 

[arrogantcat]

I thought this was interesting:

‘I could see them (the plates) between Heather and Gail, there were four large grey plates, one smaller plate - a different colour, an orangy-tan color.

‘Gail picked up two of the grey plates and took them to the table, Heather picked up two of the grey plates and took them to the table, Erin picked up the odd plate and put it at her place at the table.’

source

I wonder how Erin guaranteed she got the orange plate? If only we could hear from the other dinner attendees

 

[SouthAussie]

Key Event
5m ago

'Very acidic' blood in poisoned lunch guest, court hears​

​

By Judd Boaz​

Nanette Rogers SC continues her questioning, asking Dr Morgan to tell the court about the results of the VBG test mentioned before the break.


She says the acidity was likely caused by continual vomiting and diarrhoea, in addition to the elevated lactate.

Lactate levels were now at 10, when the normal range should be from 0.5 to 1.

​

By Judd Boaz​

Dr Morgan says Don also had abnormal readings for other markers such as potassium, urea and creatinine.

She says the fear of significant organ damage was raised as a result of these tests.

A liver function test was then run on Don, with markers such as the aspartate transaminase level measured.

The levels were highly abnormal, and Dr Morgan says the result made her very concerned about liver damage that Don had sustained.

Dying lunch guest's 'extremely abnormal' blood test results raised hospital alarm, court hears — as it happened

Ms Patterson is accused of murdering three relatives by serving them a beef Wellington laced with poisonous death cap mushrooms. Follow the trial in our live blog.

www.abc.net.au

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BBM Lactate levels were now at 10, when the normal range should be from 0.5 to 1. = WOW!!

Sounds like Don was dying before their eyes and there was nothing they could do about it.

 

[drsleuth]

Key Event
2m ago

Toxicologist raises possibility of death cap poisoning​

By Judd Boaz​

About 10:30pm, Dr Morgan says she texted the toxicology department, who ordered her to find out more about what was served at lunch.

"I was concerned that this wasnt just gastroenteritis caused by food poisoning," Dr Morgan says.

"There was a discussion about the presentation and how it was quite severe, but the onset of symptoms was quite delayed.

"This would be more indicative of a serious toxin syndrome as opposed to a food poisoning."

Dr Morgan says the toxicologist on call told her that if it was a toxin poisoning, it was most likely due to the ingestion of the amanita phalloides (death cap mushroom) toxin.

Dying lunch guest's 'extremely abnormal' blood test results raised hospital alarm, court hears — as it happened

Ms Patterson is accused of murdering three relatives by serving them a beef Wellington laced with poisonous death cap mushrooms. Follow the trial in our live blog.

www.abc.net.au

 

[katydid23]

OMG the victims prayed for Erin’s fake claim about her having cancer. I have zero sympathy for her.

YUP. She sits there letting him pray for her health, knowing they are likely to die from her meal. Was she secretly enjoying that little macabre moment?

 

[drsleuth]

2m ago06.59 BST
Morgan ordered repeat venous blood gas tests which showed there was a “persistent severe metabolic acidosis.”

She says she needed to rule out ischemic bowel disease – “dead bowel,” she says – to determine the cause of Don’s illness.

Morgan saw Don at 10pm. She agrees he appeared “relatively well” and did not have abdominal tenderness.

A CT scan of Don’s abdominal was performed which was normal and ruled out ischemic bowel, the court hears.

Erin Patterson trial day six – as it happened

This blog is now closed

www.theguardian.com

 

[drsleuth]

Sounds like Don was dying before their eyes and there was nothing they could do about it.

Yep multiple organ system failure, an absolute horrendous death

I'll be asking all my patients with V & D about mushrooms now