Dad Died Due to a Medical Prescription [Family Plans to Launch Civil Proceedings]

dad died medical prescription accident

By Fatima Virrey , Parent Herald Oct 07, 11:00 am

Photo: (Photo : freestocks.org from Pexels)

A dad died because of a medical prescription accident when he was given a medicine that is ten times stronger than his usual one.

Nicholas Eaton, 55, had been taking 5mg of pethidine, a painkiller, to ease his back pain. Because of shortage with that medicine, he was given methadone. That medicine is an equivalent to 50mg of his usual medication, by a pharmacist.

On November 6 last year, five days after taking the said medicine given by Seaforth Pharmacy in Hailsham, Eaton's son found his dad died at home.

Eaton's family is now looking to file a case after the examination found his death to be a medical prescription accident. The CPS decided that the case did not pass the rules for manslaughter on the grounds of medical negligence.

The investigation

In a post mortem report, authorities found out that the dad died because of the combination of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or lung disease, and because of methadone toxicity.

The family's struggles

Teresa Eaton, his wife and partner of 19 years, said that she is now left with four children with no father. Karly, their daughter, said that Eaton's health was the best that he had been for some time while taking pethidine. But when her father started taking the methadone, Karly noted that her dad became more tired, exhausted, and was having difficulty walking.

After the dad died, Karly saw the methadone medication leaflet warning that says not to take if the person has a lung condition, in which Eaton had.

The medical prescription accident

Karly told the people examining his father's case at Eastbourne Town Hall that she was concerned about why there was a medical prescription medication, and why such medicine was given to her dad.

Dr Hashem Soozandehfar, a pharmacist from Hailsham Medical Group, believed that the methadone to be equal to the strength of pethidine.

During the criminal investigation, they found out that the doctor had made a fatal, but an unintentional error.

GP Sabrina Spencer, was firm that the health group's policy had been checked after Mr Eaton's death and several improvements were made to make sure that a medical prescription accident never happens again.

On the other hand, Dr Soozandehfar said that he was instructed to take a course. Also, the clinical commissioning group is now producing leaflets with advice to pharmacies on medication conversions.

Coroner Alan Craze said that what was given to Eaton was ten times the amount that it should have been. It was a medical prescription accident that had been recognized by everyone in the pharmacy. But as much as they want to go back in time to change this error, they can't.

Crazed concluded that the dad died due to a medical prescription accident, all while expressing his condolences to the family.

Mrs Eaton, speaking after her husband's death, said that Eaton was an easy-going and loving family man that liked a simple and happy life and that they will surely miss him.