The inquest in to the death of a Legana nursing home resident has heard the patient was over-administered morphine hours before he was found dead.
Stanley Valentine Whiley, 67 was a palliative care patient at Tamar Park nursing home when he was given 10 times the intended dose of morphine by a registered nurse in March 2010.
The inquest heard it was her first shift in charge at the facility.
Forensic pathologist Christopher Lawrence said that while the opiate may have contributed to Mr Whiley's death, there were two other "perfectly good explanations''.
These were a major stroke suffered by Mr Whiley shortly before his death and heart disease.
The inquest at the Launceston Magistrates Court continues this afternoon.