Man with dementia found dead in hospital stairwell

A 79-year-old man was found unconscious in a stairwell at a Waikato Hospital after being missing from a ward for nearly an hour. He later died, prompting the Health and Disability Commissioner to determine that Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora violated the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers’ Rights in their management of the man’s medical needs. The individual, referred to as “Mr A,” had multiple health issues, including cardiac problems and dementia.

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