A tragic incident resulted in the death of a woman after consuming laundry capsules that appeared to resemble sweets. Elizabeth Van Der-Drift, a 93-year-old dementia sufferer, passed away on March 19 this year. The combination of aspiration pneumonia, ingesting the toxic laundry tablets, and dementia contributed to her demise. According to reports, the packaging of the capsules was strikingly similar to a bag of sweets, catching the attention of a carer.
During the inquest into her death, Assistant Coroner Ian Potter expressed concerns regarding the lack of consideration for the risks posed to individuals with dementia or cognitive impairments by current regulations. The bright and eye-catching colours of the laundry capsules are deemed an industry-wide phenomenon, making them appealing to vulnerable individuals. Potter highlighted the need for a more rigorous approach to the application of regulations or an update to the existing regulations to better protect individuals with cognitive challenges.
Ms. Van Der-Drift, who had been living with dementia for several years, often struggled to remember when she last ate food. On a particular occasion in March, she gained access to brightly colored laundry detergent tablets that she mistook for food. After consuming the pods, which resembled sweets in appearance, she developed stomach pain and breathing difficulties. Despite prompt medical attention, she passed away in the hospital a few days later.
The coroner ruled her death as accidental and issued a Prevention of Future Deaths report calling for action to address the risks posed by products like laundry capsules to vulnerable individuals. All parties mentioned in the report must respond by October 8 this year, detailing the actions taken or proposed to prevent similar incidents in the future. The incident serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of safeguarding vulnerable individuals from potential hazards in their environment.