diff --git a/onfhir-common/src/main/scala/io/onfhir/api/util/FHIRUtil.scala b/onfhir-common/src/main/scala/io/onfhir/api/util/FHIRUtil.scala
index dd0562ce..6c3a3cff 100644
--- a/onfhir-common/src/main/scala/io/onfhir/api/util/FHIRUtil.scala
+++ b/onfhir-common/src/main/scala/io/onfhir/api/util/FHIRUtil.scala
@@ -747,11 +747,18 @@ object FHIRUtil {
 
     result match {
       case JNothing => Nil
-      case org.json4s.JsonAST.JArray(arr) => arr
+      case a:org.json4s.JsonAST.JArray => flattenJArray(a)
       case _ => Seq(result)
     }
   }
 
+  private def flattenJArray(a:JArray):Seq[JValue] = {
+    a.arr.flatMap {
+      case sa:JArray => flattenJArray(sa)
+      case o => Seq(o)
+    }
+  }
+
   /**
     * Extract FHIR reference values from a resource
     * @param refPath Path to the reference element e.g. Observation.subject --> subject