I don't mean to impose on your tragic losses, but I have been pursuing a similar case since Sept 2005.
I listened to Ann Alexander's broadcast on Radio 4, could Shipman happen again?. My experience says YES.
The hospital Doctor certified my partner's death, in September 2005, as Lung Cancer following her diagnosis, only a fortnight earlier, as Tongue cancer.
Three days later, I received a call from a Coroner's Officer stating that I could collect the certificate. He added, whilst I have you on the phone, I can confirm death will be recorded as Lung cancer. I questioned, Why, when she was diagnosed with Tongue cancer. He replied, for the purposes of death, I have to state where the cancer originated.
Then, bizarrely, he stated that, because I was only her partner (although I am documented as Next of Kin) I would not be able to request a hospital/family Post-Mortem.
I obtained her medical notes and discovered that, 10 months earlier, in November 2004, a lung shadow had been documented.
Following local resolution and two independant reviews, the Healthcare Commissions clinical advisers have assured me that all CXR's show no sign of lung cancer. This is absurd, when the last CXR was only taken 3 weeks before passing away.
The cancer only happened to be diagnosed following an admission for day surgery biopsy of a neck mass that began in March '05. The clinical advisers have failed to answer my simple question, how did cancer metastasize to her neck in March '05, when the final CXR showed no sign of cancer?
Scrutinizing her notes, I discovered C Difficile documented a week before passing and a Morphine and Midazolam syringe pump was used for pain relief, which is contra-indicated, when she was asthmatic with COPD.
It is my belief that the Coroner's Officer tried to put me off of the scent, because the hospital feared her healthcare being disclosed.
So, after my long winded explanation, YES, Shipman deaths will carry on.
Having only followed your pursuit for justice, for the past twelve months, I have also learnt of the Liverpool Care Pathway that untold numbers of patients have been subjected to, which is no different to euthanasia by the back door.
Several solicitors appear reluctant to entertain my case because her death was recorded as Metastatic Lung Carcinoma, which has a poor 5 year prognosis and they believe it would be cost prohibitive, in relation to any possible compensation. The hospital Trust stretched the complaint beyond the 3 years limitation for litigation but, as in your cases, the administering of lethal opioids would be a criminal offence, that has a 6 year limit to begin court action. I therefore have 2 years to find a solicitor. But I'm waiting for the Health Ombudsman's report, which prevents me from doing so.
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