Inquest Finds Richard Branson Wife Joan’s Death Preventable After Hospital Failures
According to Westminster Coroner’s Court, the death of Lady Branson on November 24, 2025, at the age of 80 could have likely been prevented if she had been administered preventative medication for a massive blood clot. Sir Richard Branson’s wife passed away at The Lister Hospital in Chelsea following complications from a back injury sustained weeks earlier at the family’s Necker Island retreat.
Inquest Findings Reveal Preventative Medication Omissions
Senior coroner for Inner West London, Professor Fiona Wilcox, concluded during the inquest that the lack of prophylactic anticoagulants caused or contributed to Lady Branson’s death. The court heard that the 80-year-old had a documented history of blood clots dating back to 2018 and required anti-clotting injections during prior hospital admissions and long-haul flights. Despite facing a very high risk of developing deep vein thrombosis, she did not receive Enoxaparin injections prior to her death.
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Dr. Basir Kunduzi, the duty doctor at The Lister Hospital during Lady Branson’s admission, testified at the inquest that he believed she should have been prescribed anti-coagulant injections and accepted responsibility for the prescription decision. Explaining the delay, Dr. Kunduzi told the court that because Lady Branson had been mobilized since her fall, there was a perceived risk of bleeding. He chose to postpone administering the anti-blood clot drugs until a computed tomography (CT) scan could be organized to rule out internal bleeding that anticoagulants might exacerbate.
Dr. Kunduzi noted in medical records that the drugs had been withheld and acknowledged during the proceedings that he expected oncoming medical staff to review his decision.
Family Testimony Highlights Protocol Concerns
Dr. Holly Branson, the daughter of Sir Richard and Lady Branson, submitted an email to the coroner expressing deep concern regarding her mother’s hospital treatment while emphasizing she did not wish to attribute individual blame to any specific doctor.
Dr. Branson stated that she remained at her mother’s side for the first two days of hospitalization and that Enoxaparin was never offered during that window. She further testified that anti-embolism stockings were not provided for up to 48 hours following admission, an omission she identified and addressed directly with nursing staff, after which her mother wore them.
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