Bridgnorth diabetic died after overdose in cell, inquest jury told
A diabetic from Bridgnorth who died six days after he was held in a police cell for more than 14 hours was 'inadvertently overdosed' with a morphine-based painkiller, an inquest heard.
The hearing at Wem Coroner's Court heard that Mark Stevens, 47, from Bridgnorth, was given a second dose of Zoromorph within six hours instead of the recommended 12-hour gap.
A jury of six men and four women, who were sworn in yesterday, heard that Mr Stevens had been arrested in Bridgnorth on suspicion of criminal damage and threats to kill on July 6, 2011.
Shropshire coroner Mr John Ellery told the jury that the town's police station did not have a custody suite so Mr Stevens was taken to Shrewsbury Police Station, arriving at about 7.40am.
He was held for 14-and-a-half hours before being taken to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital after concerns about his blood sugar levels.
Soon after his arrival, he lost consciousness, thought to be due to a morphine overdose.
Mr Stevens had a cardiac arrest on July 8 and died three days later.
Mr Ellery said medical experts considered his death was due to hypoxic brain injury caused by cardiac arrest and an overdose of the medicine Zoromorph. Yesterday afternoon the inquest heard evidence from Dr Shiraz Budhani, who was on call with independent agency Medacs and arrived at Shrewsbury Police Station at around 1pm to examine Mr Stevens.
He said Mr Stevens suffered from diabetes type 1 and used insulin, hepatitis C and pancraetitis – inflammation of the pancreas – for which he used strong painkillers including zoromorph and pregabalin.
He was also taking diazepan, for alcohol withdrawal symptoms and mirtazepine for depression. Mr Stevens had brought his medicines with him to the police station.
It is recommended that 200mg of Zoromorph be taken at 12 hourly intervals. However, Dr Budhani said he returned nearly six hours later and gave Mr Stevens a second dose because he was in pain.
Mr Ellery asked if he was aware that there was a body of opinion that by doing so he created an overdose and that the reason Mr Stevens lost consciousness was because of the second dose.
Dr Budhani, from Kidderminster, told the jury he had had a lapse in his concentration and, if a similar situation arose, he would not do it again.
He also said he should have taken into account the other medicines.
The inquest continues.
