(L.A.) David Smith, 68, Died in a Hospital

Case Number: 2022-09698

Los Angeles County is reporting the death of a 68-year-old Caucasian male that occurred in a hospital.

The coroner’s office identified the man as David Smith.

Manner of Death: Accident

Cause of Death A: Intracranial Hemorrhage

Cause of Death B: Blunt-Force Head Trauma

Other Significant Condition: Anticoagulation Therapy

RIP DAVID SMITH (August 14, 1954 – September 12, 2022)

Formal pronouncement of death was made on Monday at 10:00 p.m.

This case illustrates a major contemporary challenge in trauma care: the growing population of older adults on anticoagulation (warfarin, DOACs like apixaban/rivaroxaban) for conditions like atrial fibrillation or venous thromboembolism. When these patients sustain even minor head trauma, their compromised coagulation can turn survivable injuries into fatal hemorrhages.

Note that there are multiple decedents named “David Smith” in public records.