'A patient cannot be forced to stay in the hospital', pensioner's death inquest hears
Patrick Rowland's daughter Sally, son Hugh, wife Louisa, son Cormac, and his wife Marcella attended the final day of the inquest into Patrick's death. Picture: Conor McKeown
A grandfather who drowned accidentally after leaving hospital while very unwell could not have been detained there as “a hospital is not a prison”, a coroner has ruled.
Patrick Rowland, 69, described in court as “a good citizen” and “a pillar of a man”, was probably suffering sepsis and pneumonia when he left Mayo University Hospital in an "agitated" state wearing pyjamas and slippers after midnight on January 17, 2023.
