Probe over live woman declared dead

A far north Queensland hospital will investigate a bungle that saw staff declare a woman dead and notify her family, only to realise minutes later she was still breathing.

Rita Ring was admitted to Innisfail Hospital from a local nursing home on May 3, and was wrongly declared dead shortly before midnight.

Staff informed the 92-year-old woman's next of kin, but had to call back a short time later to inform them there had been a mistake.

Ms Ring died in the hospital three days later.

Innisfail Hospital is investigating the circumstances around the error, and has apologised to the family.

The hospital's medical superintendent Dr Peter McKenna said all staff involved in caring for Ms Ring were distressed about the incident.

"I can only imagine the distress this situation must have caused the family of the deceased, to be told their loved one had died and then to have that contradicted just a short while later," Dr McKenna said in a statement.

"I can assure the family that, at all times, their relative was handled with the highest possible level of care and dignity."

Dr McKenna said declaration of death was "dependent on the absence of a number of key life signs", which were absent when an experienced doctor examined Ms Ring and certified her dead.

But nurses noted her life signs returned minutes after the doctor had left the room.

Cairns and hinterland district director Dr Neil Beaton said the investigation would examine whether the procedures around declaring the patient deceased were carried out properly.

But Dr Beaton told ABC Radio the signs of life could be "unpredictable" in a very elderly patient.

"The doctor concerned was a very experienced doctor," he said.

"(Ms Ring) was very seriously ill when she was admitted and arrangements had been made to care for her and make her comfortable.

"We can only say to the family that we would like them to accept our sincere apologies that this has happened."

Dr Beaton could not confirm reports Ms Ring was being placed in a body bag when nurses realised she was breathing.

He said no action would be taken against the doctor concerned while the investigation, which should be completed within two days, was pending.