A Coronor has ruled that doctors were right to prescribe an epileptic man a drug that made him vulnerable to seizures.
Krishan Soni, 64, died following a series of epileptic fits, which he suffered after having a heart attack at his home in Callow Hill Way, Littleover.
An inquest at Derby Coroner’s Court heard that doctors had previously prescribed him Tramadol to treat severe pain caused by a number of medical conditions, including gout and cardiovascular disease.
His family had feared the drug had been a contributing factor to his death because it should not be administered to patients who are epileptic or drink alcohol.
Doctors agreed to give Mr Soni the treatment despite knowing he had collapsed from a seizure in 2004, although they were unaware he enjoyed a couple of beers in the evenings.
Dr Melvyn Heappey, who was Mr Soni’s GP, said that alternative medication would have had equally adverse side-effects.
He said that, on balance, Tramadol represented the best course of action.
Dr Robert Hunter, coroner for Derby and South Derbyshire, said he was satisfied doctors were right to prescribe the drug and that there was no evidence to suggest it contributed to Mr Soni suffering a cardiac arrest on February 17.
Following the inquest, Mr Soni’s son, Ajay, thanked consultants who helped ease his father’s pain before his death at Derbyshire Royal Infirmary two days after his heart attack.
He said: “The doctors are not to blame. My father was in a considerable amount of pain and I’d like to thank them for looking after him.”
Dr Hunter recorded a verdict of death by natural causes.
(c) 2008 Derby Evening Telegraph. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.
Comments