Caroline Murphy (54) of Rathcobican, Rhode died in June 2017.
An Offaly woman died as a result of health complications from burns suffered in her home when a medical breathing device caught fire while she was using an e-cigarette, an inquest has heard.
A verdict of accidental death was recorded at Dublin Coroner’s Court after evidence showed that the burns injuries triggered a “cascade” of health issues which resulted in the death of Caroline Murphy five weeks later in St James’ Hospital in Dublin.
The coroner, Dr Crona Gallagher, said she would alert a number of regulatory authorities about the incident as a document that was filled out to authorise the use of highly combustible, home oxygen equipment by Ms Murphy indicated she was a non-smoker.
Dr Gallagher said there was a question over whether vaping or use of e-cigarettes was considered smoking.
Ms Murphy, a 54-year-old mother of two, from Rathcobian, Rhode, Co Offaly, suffered 7 per cent burns to her face, neck and upper chest during the incident at her home on June 22, 2017.
The inquest, which originally opened in April 2019, was adjourned in order to allow further evidence to be gathered about the medical equipment Ms Murphy was using and on her treatment in hospital.
The victim’s husband, Pat Murphy, had previously given evidence that he had heard her call out from her bedroom that she was “burning up” and “in flames”.
Mr Murphy, who died last year, said his wife’s hair was on fire, while the nasal tube attached to her face was melting.
The witness, who was a wheelchair user, said he had taken off his shirt and wrapped it around his wife before carrying her into the shower.
Asked by the coroner if his wife had been smoking when the fire ignited, Mr Murphy said she had taken a pull of an e-cigarette.
The resumed inquest heard on Monday that Ms Murphy had been receiving dialysis three times a week at the Midlands Regional Hospital in Tullamore.
Professor George Mellotte, a consultant nephrologist at St James’ Hospital, said an alternative form of treatment had been required for Ms Murphy as a result of her burns injuries as she was unfit for her normal dialysis.
The inquest heard her condition had improved slowly and she had been moved out of the intensive care unit to the hospital’s burns unit until she suffered a sudden deterioration on July 28, 2017 and died two days later.
Prof Mellotte agreed with the coroner that the burns injuries had triggered Ms Murphy’s demise as her kidney disease alone would not have caused her death at that stage in her life.
“She would have been maintained on routine dialysis if it wasn’t for the burns,” Prof Mellotte observed.
Dr Daniel Di Capua, who carried out an autopsy on Ms Murphy’s body, said the results showed she had died from multiple-organ failure as a result of a lack of blood supply to the liver which was due to the burns she had suffered.
Dr Di Capua said the deceased did not have any underlying liver condition.
Returning a verdict of accidental death, Dr Gallagher said it was regrettable that BOC Homecare, who had provided the oxygen equipment to Ms Murphy, had not been formally notified about the incident.
However, the company had informed her that no fault was found with the equipment after it had been returned.
The inquest heard that safety notices provided by BOC Homecare did specifically alert users to the dangers posed by smoking near the equipment including the use of e-cigarettes.
Dr Gallagher said she could not comment on whether the vaping device used by Ms Murphy was defective.
The coroner said she would alert the Health Products Regulatory Authority and the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission about the incident.
She will also ask the HSE to review its documentation to ensure there was clarity around whether vaping was considered as smoking.
Road Cleared After Emergency Services Attend Scene Of Offaly Crash
Independent Ireland Launch Election Manifesto In Westmeath
Santa Claus, Sleeping Beauty, & DJs To Star In Offaly Christmas Lights Event
Gardaí Renew Appeal For Missing Teen
Cost Of Living Means Renters Have No Life - People Before Profit
Planning For Housing Development In Westmeath Granted by An Bord Pleanála
New Photography Book Focusing On Westmeath Lake Released
Offaly Candidate Calls For Less Red Tape Around Planning Permission
Westmeath Nursing Home Found To Be "Well Managed" During Inspection
Large Corporations "Stealing" From Irish People - Laois Election Candidate
New Survey Shows Younger Men Are More Likely To Be "Traditionalist"
Westmeath Councillors Announce IPAS Battle Go Fund Me Page
We Shouldn't Over Rely On Multinationals Says Laois Recruitment Expert
Midlands Under Low Temperature Warning Until Tomorrow Afternoon
Farmers Are Not Being Heard - Longford-Westmeath General Election Candidate
Irish Farmers Welcome Changes To EU Deforestation Regulations
Midlands Influencer Joining "I'm A Celebrity" Tonight
Midlands Taxi Numbers Down Almost 16%
Online Voting Could Enfranchise People Living With A Disability - Laois IWA
Healthcare Workers Set To Protest Outside Westmeath Hospital Over Staffing Issues