Stephen Charters, a sex offender, died in HMP Edinburgh after collapsing. He had a “Do Not Resuscitate” (DNR) order.
The 57-year-old died at HMP Edinburgh on June 19, 2022. He collapsed quickly in a common area after being jailed a few days earlier for sexual offenses, including raping four women between 1984 and 2015.
Charters, who once led worship services, was found guilty after a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh. He got a five-year prison sentence and a lifelong restriction order, then died shortly after sentencing.
The inquiry was required because he died in legal custody. His death was not an accident but resulted from natural causes, the inquiry found. He died from heart disease and had a history of chest pain.
On the day he collapsed, he was cleaning at about 9:30 AM. Another prisoner quickly put him into the recovery position, and three prison officers helped him promptly. A nurse arrived within a short time.
He had a “Do Not Resuscitate” order in place. The nurse started helping him but stopped upon hearing about the order, and his death was confirmed later that day at 2:40 PM.
The order, dated March 2, 2020, showed in his records. He wrote that he didn’t want to be resuscitated due to COVID-19 restrictions and agreed to morphine for pain only, declining other medicine.
An autopsy stated that his condition could cause sudden death, finding no injuries or intoxication. He died from heart disease in the prison, having experienced chest pains for a long time, and one statement read that he got attentive treatment.
Treatment stopped quickly after his collapse upon seeing the order as it was his wish not to be resuscitated. The order followed his talk with a doctor, and while such orders are not common there and this order had no review date, which appeared to be against policy, it did not affect his death.