Family not told of autopsy on body

THE daughter of a 95-year-old woman expressed concern yesterday that her family was not told an autopsy had been conducted on her body.

Mary Gordon, whose mother Mary Murphy, 95, from Mount Pleasant Avenue in Cork, died after a fall, told Cork City Coroner’s Court her family found out about the postmortem from a funeral home director later.

Assistant city coroner Philip Comyn thanked the family for raising the issue. He said doctors treating Ms Murphy should have informed them about the postmortem. He would write to hospital authorities about the matter.

Ms Murphy fractured her hip after a simple fall at home and was admitted to hospital. She contracted pneumonia while in hospital and later died.

The verdict was death due to natural causes, Mr Comyn said.

Ms Gordon said her mother lived a full and independent life in her own home with support from two carers who lived nearby. The inquest was told that Ms Murphy also had great support from her family — particularly her daughters and grandchildren who would sit with her at weekends.

Mr Comyn said it was obvious that Ms Murphy had lived a very full life and was very fortunate to have had great care from her family.