Grandfather killed after massive overdose of chemotherapy drugs in hospital blunder

Last updated at 21:27 14 November 2007


A grandfather being treated for throat cancer died after he was given a massive overdose of chemotherapy.

A medical blunder meant that dairy farmer David Hirst, 68, received a full day's worth of Fluorouracil in only two hours from an intravenous drip in hospital.

Staff at Manchester's Wythenshawe Hospital then proceeded with his five-day chemotherapy course without first consulting a doctor.

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ANgela Hirst

Mr Hirst was discharged in January this year but collapsed and died on his way home to Macclesfield.

Yesterday his widow Angela, 68, said she heard of the error only months later through the coroner's documents.

She said: "I was so angry I actually got in the car and started driving to the hospital.

"It made me so mad to think he would still have been alive if they had taken 30 seconds to read the instructions properly."

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David Hirst and Angela

Recording a narrative verdict at the inquest in Manchester, Coroner Nigel Meadows said the cause of death was a heart attack, but added: "It is unclear whether the overdose contributed to his death.

"What is important is to ensure steps have been taken to prevent a similar occurrence."

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