The widow of a man who died after he was given painkillers six times more powerful than the ones he was prescribed, has said that she is to sue for compensation.

Eileen Bradford-Fawson, from Spalding, Lincolnshire, blames surgery and pharmacy staff for a “catalogue of medical negligence errors” that led to her husband, John’s death. An inquest heard that a doctor had prescribed 60 x 10mg of morphine sulphate tablets for pain relief but a dispenser, Lynn Coddington, had handed out a box clearly marked 10 x 60mg.

A barcode system failed to pick up the error and a community nurse, who visited the couple’s home, also said that it was the correct prescription. Eileen gave her husband one of the pills and he died three days later in hospital without regaining consciousness.

The coroner at Spalding Magistrates Court, Maureen Taylor, recorded a verdict of death by natural causes but Eileen said that she cannot accept the verdict and is to take legal action. The surgery has said that it has changed its procedures for dispensing controlled drugs since the death of Mr Bradford-Fawson.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2014204/Grandfather-dies-GP-surgery-hands-morphine-pills-SIX-times-stronger-normal-dosage.html