Laura Higginson, a petite woman, died a traumatic death in 2017 after being given multiple doses of paracetamol that were dangerously high for her size at Whiston Hospital in Prescot. She had a rare genetic condition called Gitelman Syndrome. The doses were given on three consecutive days and were above the recommended limit. The hospital claimed that the overdose did not cause her death. Her husband Antony only found out about the dosage error three months after her death when he read her post-mortem report. He has since reported the hospital to the police for manslaughter.
Laura had gone to the hospital with a chesty cough and ended up severely unwell due to the overdose. She had to receive regular potassium and magnesium infusions to treat her Gitelman Syndrome. While in hospital, she developed symptoms of sepsis and kidney failure. She had hallucinations, pulled out her tubes, and was placed in an induced coma. Her condition continued to worsen until her passing on April 19. Her family was informed that she likely had sepsis and kidney failure. Antony brought their children, Stephen and Evie, to the hospital to say goodbye to their mum before she passed away.
The inquest revealed that Laura was not weighed or asked for her weight until after she was admitted to the ward. Her initial paracetamol prescription was issued in the emergency department without considering her size. The error was discovered by a junior pharmacist on the fourth day, by which point Laura had already received six doses. She was transferred to the intensive care unit on April 8 after the overdose was realized. The central issue in the inquiry is to determine if the high dosage of paracetamol contributed to her death. The inquest is expected to last seven days and is ongoing.
Laura’s husband Antony was devastated when he learned about the overdose and said his world was spinning. He reported the hospital to the police for manslaughter, believing that the high dosage of paracetamol had played a role in her death. He recalled hearing his wife describe symptoms of distress, including vomiting blood, turning yellow, and coughing up blood. Laura’s death was traumatic for her family, especially her children, who tried to comfort her in her final moments. Antony was forced to take his children home before receiving news of Laura’s passing. The family was not given the opportunity to have an inquest into her death until now.
Laura’s case highlights the importance of proper dosing in medical settings and the potential risks of overdosing medications, even commonly used painkillers like paracetamol. Her husband’s decision to report the hospital for manslaughter reflects the need for accountability in healthcare practices to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. The ongoing inquest will hopefully provide answers to the questions surrounding Laura’s death and shed light on the circumstances that led to the overdose.
