The death of Lady Joan Branson, the beloved wife of billionaire entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson, has led to a deeply troubling investigation that revealed her life may have been saved if she had received preventative medication for a serious blood clot risk. Lady Branson died at the age of 80 on November 24, 2025, after suffering a fatal pulmonary embolism — a sudden and dangerous blockage in an artery in the lungs caused by a blood clot that had developed elsewhere in the body.

An inquest at Westminster Coroner’s Court heard that Lady Branson had been admitted to The Lister Hospital in Chelsea on November 17, 2025, after suffering serious injuries from a fall at the family’s private Necker Island retreat. The accident left her with pelvic and hip fractures, and she was later treated in hospital after experiencing ongoing pain from the injuries.

However, during the investigation into her death, concerns were raised over the decision not to provide her with preventative anti-clotting medication, despite her known medical history and the high risk factors she faced. Lady Branson had a history of blood clotting issues dating back to 2018 and had previously received anti-clotting injections during flights and earlier hospital admissions.

Professor Fiona Wilcox, the senior coroner for Inner West London, concluded that Lady Branson’s death was likely preventable. She stated that the absence of anticoagulation treatment contributed to the development of the fatal clot. According to the coroner, Lady Branson should have received prophylactic anticoagulants, particularly Enoxaparin injections, because she was considered at a very high risk of developing deep vein thrombosis.

Lady Branson’s daughter, Dr Holly Branson, who previously worked as a hospital doctor, expressed concerns about the treatment her mother received. While she made clear that she did not want to blame any individual doctor, she questioned why her mother had not been offered the medication she had previously used without issue.

Dr Branson explained that her mother had regularly accepted anti-clotting injections when they were recommended, particularly during long-haul flights and previous hospital stays. She rejected suggestions that Lady Branson had refused Enoxaparin because of concerns about pain, bruising, or bleeding, saying that such a claim did not match her mother’s usual approach to medical care.

During the first two days of Lady Branson’s hospital stay, Dr Branson said she was by her mother’s side and never saw Enoxaparin being offered. She stated that if she had known her mother was not receiving the injections, she would have been extremely concerned because of her recent travel history and medical background.

Dr Branson also raised concerns about the use of compression stockings, another method used to help reduce the risk of blood clots. She said that her mother did not appear to be wearing them for up to 48 hours after admission. After she questioned staff about this, the stockings were provided.

At the inquest, Dr Basir Kunduzi, who was responsible for Lady Branson’s care at one point during her admission, acknowledged that she should have received anticoagulant injections. He accepted that prescribing the medication was his responsibility.

Dr Kunduzi explained that he delayed prescribing the medication because Lady Branson had suffered a fall and there was concern about a possible bleeding risk. He wanted to arrange a CT scan first to make sure there was no internal bleeding that could be worsened by blood-thinning medication.

However, he later accepted that the decision would stay with him for the rest of his life. He expressed his deepest condolences to Lady Branson’s family and said the experience had changed his approach to communication between medical team members.

Another doctor involved in Lady Branson’s care, Dr Nevil Pavithran, told the court that she should have received anticoagulants within 12 hours of arriving at the hospital. He said that by November 18, the decision to prescribe the medication should have been straightforward and that there was no clear bleeding risk preventing treatment.

Dr Pavithran also stated that Lady Branson was unlikely to have been wearing compression stockings at the time and explained that a consultant later requested that she use them.

Dr Ben Thomas, a consultant anaesthetist at The Lister Hospital, also provided evidence during the hearing. He explained that he had considered giving Lady Branson a pain-relieving spinal injection but needed to know whether she was taking blood-thinning medication because such a procedure could carry a risk of excessive bleeding.

Dr Thomas said Lady Branson told him she did not usually take blood thinners and only used injections when flying. However, he later clarified that he did not mean she had refused medication; rather, she had explained that it was not part of her regular daily treatment.

He also admitted that he regretted not asking more detailed questions during their conversation.

Dr Inaki Bovill, another doctor involved in Lady Branson’s treatment, said he was aware of her previous medical history, including the presence of a vena cava filter designed to prevent blood clots from reaching the heart. He acknowledged that a venous thromboembolism assessment should have been carried out when she was admitted and that anti-clotting medication should have been prescribed.

Dr Bovill said he deeply regretted that the issue had not been identified earlier. He explained that changes to the hospital’s electronic prescribing system may have contributed to confusion because previous systems made it more obvious when medication had not been prescribed.

He accepted that while junior doctors often handle prescribing tasks, the ultimate responsibility remained with consultants.

In a statement shared at the inquest, Lady Branson’s family described her as a deeply loved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. They remembered her as someone known for her kindness, warmth, generosity, and ability to bring people together.

Born Joan Templeman in Glasgow, Lady Branson was described as a trusted confidante who had touched the lives of many people. Her relationship with Sir Richard Branson, which lasted for 50 years, was described as being built on mutual strength, affection, and lasting support.

The investigation into her death has highlighted serious concerns about missed opportunities to prevent a fatal blood clot. The coroner’s conclusion stated that Lady Branson’s death would likely have been avoided if appropriate anticoagulation treatment had been provided at the right time.