Dr failed to spot killer bug

A DOCTOR has admitted failing to examine a patient properly just hours before she died of a rare and deadly disease.

Dr Richard Pearson was on duty at Leighton Hospital's A&E department when Alison Farmer came in complaining of an allergic reaction to an insect bite.

However, the doctor failed to spot an infection that was in fact the deadly disease, Nacrotising Faciitis - known as the flesh-eating bug.

Mrs Farmer, aged 42 and of Fuller Drive in Wistaston, was sent home but collapsed very soon after and died after being rushed back to the hospital.

Dr Pearson, who has in the past been caught sniffing an anaesthetic drug while on duty at another hospital, appeared at an inquest into the death but denied being under the influence of any drugs or alcohol on the day in question.

At the inquest, Cheshire coroner Nicholas Rheinberg, launched an in-depth probe into what happened that day, September 11, 2000.

Mrs Farmer's husband, Robert, 45, told the court that his wife had a history of allergic reactions to Horse Flies and on the day before her death (Saturday) had said she had been bitten.

"I woke about 7.30am (on Sunday) took one look at her and thought you're not right, we phoned the GP service and they advised us to take her to the hospital," Mr Farmer said.

The court heard Dr Pearson saw Mrs Farmer at around 9am but heard conflicting accounts as to the extent of the doctor's examination of the patient.

Mr Farmer said he told the doctor that his wife had been shaking and that the insect bite was thought to be underneath the arm but maintained he never examined that area.

"He did not visually examine the area at that stage and I do not think he did at any stage thereafter. He examined her with his hands above the clothing.

"At some stage towards the end of our visit she said the tissue seemed to be hardening and was moving onto her breast and it was very hard and sore, but again I did not see Dr Pearson make a visual examination," he added.

Dr Pearson told the court he did not remember being told she had been shaking and he had seen a mark on the left arm, which he had taken to be the bite.

"I do not know why her clothes were not removed and I do not ever remember being told that there was an insect bite under the arm," he said.

When Mr Rheinberg questioned the fullness of Dr Pearson's examination he said: "I do not recall being told that the pain was further down the chest. I accept she was not fully examined."

Mr Farmer tried to question Dr Pearson, saying: "We are aware you have a history of substance misuse," but Mr Rheinberg said the questioning wasn't relevant although he asked if Dr Pearson had been under the influence at the time, to which he responded: "I was certainly not under the influence of drugs or alcohol on that day."

The court heard that a high pulse rate of 110 was recorded and a heartbeat of 136 and that Mrs Farmer was clammy and sweaty and various experts testified this should have been an indication of infection.

Dr Duncan Chambers, a consultant with A&E at Leighton Hospital, said: "It (Nacrotising Faciitis) is a very difficult diagnosis but I think it would have been reasonable given an appropriate examination to think of infection."

Recording a verdict of accidental death Mr Rheinberg said: "There is some degree of uncertainty or inconsistency in evidence as to what exactly happened between Mr Farmer and Dr Pearson.

"Alison Farmer may have been expected to have been referred onto a more specialist treatment regime, the best place probably being intensive care and the lack of treatment can be best categorised as a lost opportunity rather than the actual cause of Mrs Farmer's death."

Mr Rheinberg was assured changes had been made at Leighton's A&E department.

Chief Executive at Leighton Hospital, Simon Yates, confirmed Dr Pearson is still working at Leighton and that the hospital had already taken disciplinary action against him.

"The Trust accepts Mrs Farmer should have stayed in hospital," said Mr Yates.