The inquest into the death of a 30-year-old mom who died in hospital has concluded.
Laura Higginson died in April 2017 at Whiston Hospital in Prescot, Merseyside, UK.
She was admitted to the medical centre near Liverpool because of a suspected pneumonia diagnosis, where she was given ‘staggered overdoses’ of paracetamol.
Laura had a rare and serious genetic condition, which meant she was very underweight, but doctors gave her a standard dose for the average adult.
However, Laura weighed less than six stone at the time of her admittance, so should have received a dose of around half of that.
Ultimately, the coroner was unable to conclude that the overdoses had contributed to Laura’s death.
Two days and six doses after her initial dose, Laura’s condition started to deteriorate, and 12 days later, on 19 April 2017, she died of multiorgan failure and sepsis.
Dr Antony Higginson, Laura’s husband, had previously told the coroner his wife had vomited blood and turned yellow after overdosing.
Laura was no stranger to the hospital after being diagnosed with Gitelmam syndrome in 2010, which is a rare kidney disorder that causes an imbalance of ions in the body.
On Monday (December 23), Coroner Simon Holder rejected the hospital trust’s request for a death by natural causes, while also throwing out the family’s point of view that Laura passed away because of neglect.
Handing down a narrative conclusion, Mr Holder said: “On the evidence I have heard, from April 5 to April 7, Laura Higginson was administered excess staggered doses of paracetamol while a patient at Whiston Hospital. It has not been proven, on the balance of probabilities, that this contributed to her death days later.”
The coroner added: “I have heard the (Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS) Trust’s submission that a conclusion of natural causes would be appropriate. That is rejected. I also cannot accept the family’s submission that neglect be recorded as a finding. I must explain… that neglect in coronial law is quite different.
“The definition of neglect in this context means a gross failure to provide adequate nourishment or liquid, or provide or procure basic medical attention or shelter or warmth for someone in a dependent position.
“I cannot find that the failures by the Trust amounted to a gross failure to provide the basics in medical care.
“The failures of care do have to be gross, and I don’t find that the failures here – that mistake of administering the paracetamol – amounts to a gross failure.”
