Stroke patient inquest rules out overdose
Doctors at a Belfast hospital did not contribute to the death of an elderly stroke patient by overdosing him with sedatives, an inquest found today.
Reginald McConnell, 74, from Glengormley, Co Antrim, died in the Mater Hospital in March last year, 12 days after being admitted with a stroke.
His family have claimed his death was caused by an overdose of sedatives.
However, deputy coroner Deborah Malcolm accepted the evidence of consultants at the hospital and independent medical witnesses that the patient died of a second stroke on March 20, 2003.
Miss Malcolm, presenting her findings at Belfast Coroner’s Court, said she did not believe the drugs used during his treatment had contributed to his death.
“I believe that the drug regime given to Mr McConnell in March 2003 was entirely appropriate, and Mr McConnell’s death was wholly consistent with a stroke,” she said.
During the inquest it was revealed that one of the drugs used to treat Mr McConnell, Risperidone, has subsequently been found to increase the risk of stroke victims suffering another seizure.
The medical community were advised of this in January 2004. Miss Malcolm said there was insufficient evidence that Risperidone had contributed to Mr McConnell’s death.
The McConnell family, who were in court, were visibly upset by the findings.
Mr McConnell’s daughter, Helen Young, said she would be seeking an urgent appointment with Miss Malcolm.
His son, John McConnell, said he was disappointed by the findings.
“We know the treatment he got in the hospital and this is why we requested this inquest,” he said.
“We are going to have to look down further avenues to get some sort of evidence about what happened to my father.”
