Coroner Calls for Perjury Probe into Forged Hospital Signature

A CORONER has asked police to launch a perjury investigation after rejecting evidence given by two hospital workers at an inquest into the death of an elderly patient.

Roger Whittaker had heard evidence over three days regarding the death last year at Dewsbury & District Hospital of retired debt collector Wanda ‘Jenny’ Murphy, who’s signature was apparently forged on a self-discharge form.

The 78-year-old from Brunswick Street, Westborough, Dewsbury, was taken to hospital. On August 13 last year, a worried neighbour telephoned for an ambulance, but she was later discharged from hospital. She had returned from a holiday in Malta in May after collapsing.

Mrs Murphy was admitted again later in the month but then fell at home and eventually died in the hospital on September 1 last year after contracting bronchial pneumonia.

The inquest into her death was originally resumed at the end of May when James Counsell, representing Dr Rohit Sinha, a junior doctor involved in her care, said Mrs Murphy “‘had indicated that she wanted to stay in the hospital” but only shortly afterwards became determined to leave.

She left the hospital in the middle of the night by taxi.

An investigation was started by the authorities after Mrs Murphy’s daughter, Fran Simpson, 47, claimed her mother’s signature on the August 13 self-discharge note did not correspond with her mother’s usual handwriting.

The inquest previously heard that Dr Sinha was asked by police if he had ‘panicked’ after they began investigating offences involving forgery and misconduct following her death. He denied any wrongdoing.

Staff nurse Nichola Royal, 33, was interviewed by a police officer who told her Mrs Murphy’s signature had been forged and explained that handwriting samples had been taken.

She denied any knowledge of who had signed the discharge document in the patient’s name.

Yesterday at Bradford Coroner’s Court, Mr Whittaker recorded a verdict of “accidental death to which neglect contributed.”

He said: “I want to refer this case back to West Yorkshire Police. I think it is appropriate that they should look at it for perjury during this inquest.”

He said he was satisfied after hearing evidence from a forensic science specialist that the “signature purporting to be that of Wanda Murphy was not. That the signature is countersigned by Dr Sinha is incontrovertible.”

He added: “I don’t accept evidence of Nichola Royal and Dr Sinha that she discharged herself. Wanda Murphy’s signature was a cynical attempt to show the contrary.

“Self-discharge or not there should have been a follow-up which clearly didn’t happen.”

Mr Whittaker also called for the professional bodies governing Dr Sinha and Nichola Royal to give “professional consideration of their roles in this case.”

Tracey McErlain-Burns, chief nurse and director of patient experience, at The Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “I have offered my genuine apologies to Mrs Murphy’s family for the additional distress they have been through.

“We will now carefully consider the findings of the inquest and I give Mrs Murphy’s family my personal commitment that we will take any action that needs to be taken.”

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