August 17th 2024.
According to a recent report, Elizabeth Van Der-Drift, a 93-year-old woman dealing with dementia, tragically passed away on March 19th after mistakenly eating laundry capsules that resembled candy. The cause of her death was a combination of aspiration pneumonia, ingestion of the toxic detergent tablets, and her preexisting condition of dementia. During the inquest into Ms. Van Der-Drift's death, a caregiver shared that the packaging of the laundry capsules was strikingly similar to a bag of sweets, as stated in the prevention of future deaths report.
Assistant coroner Ian Potter expressed concern that current regulations may not adequately consider the risks posed to individuals with dementia or cognitive impairments. He explained, "While it is widely recognized that products like these can pose a danger to children, there seems to be less attention given to the risks for those living with dementia or other cognitive impairments." He noted that the bright and eye-catching colors of the packaging were a common trend in the industry, making it difficult for individuals with dementia to distinguish them from actual food.
Rather than directing the report to the specific manufacturer, Mr. Potter issued it to the chief executive officer of the Office for Product Safety and Standards, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, and the director general of the UK Cleaning Product Industry Association. He stated that targeting one company would be short-sighted and called for a more comprehensive approach to addressing the issue.
Mr. Potter also highlighted the Food Imitations Regulations of 1989, which prohibit the sale of items that may be mistaken for food but are not fit for consumption. He questioned whether these regulations truly take into account the needs of those living with dementia or if they are being enforced with enough rigor. Ms. Van Der-Drift had been living with dementia for a number of years and often struggled to remember when she last ate. On the day of the incident, she managed to access the laundry pods and consumed at least one of them, mistaking it for a sweet treat.
The product itself was described as predominantly pink and white with hints of orange, yellow, and green, making it visually appealing and potentially confusing for someone with even basic motor skills. Shortly after consuming the product, Ms. Van Der-Drift began experiencing stomach pain and difficulty breathing. She was taken to the hospital but sadly passed away a few days later. The inquest determined her death to be accidental.
As per the prevention of future deaths report, recipients are required to respond by October 8th, detailing the actions taken or proposed to be taken, or providing a justification for not taking any action, unless the coroner extends the deadline. For the latest news from London, visit The Agency's London news hub.
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