Family Ask Coroner To Consider Adequacy Of Amiodarone Prescriptions

By Dave Grimshaw

An inquest into the death of a grandfather-of-six, who died at Sheffield Northern General after suffering with a persistent cough and shortness of breath, will take place on Monday (2nd September).

John Bailey, from Owlthorpe, in Sheffield, was admitted to hospital in December 2008 with heart palpitations and a lower respiratory tract infection. He was placed on a drug called Amiodarone, which is intended to prevent a heart-attack or stroke and helps with irregular heartbeats.

The drug has strict guidelines on its prescription and monitoring and the family are keen to ensure the protocols for its use are adequate, after John developed a well recognised complication of the drug and died aged 74, at the Sheffield Northern General in April 2011.

Mr Bailey leaves a widow, Maureen Bailey, 78, a daughter Christine, 50, a 49-year-old son Richard, along with six-grandchildren. He was a loving grandfather and is greatly missed by his family. 

Heather Kolar, a specialist medical lawyer representing John’s widow Maureen, said: “The family are naturally devastated by John’s death. They have lots of questions about how a generally healthy man died and hope that the inquest will help provide the answers they need to begin to move on with their lives.

“In particular, the family are keen for the inquest to consider the adequacy of the Shared Care Protocol for protecting patients taking Amiodarone in the community, as it has known side affects which can be severe.” 

The inquest will resume at 10am on Monday 2 September 2013 at the Medico-Legal Centre Sheffield and is scheduled to last for five days. 

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