Mom of Two Dies at 30 After Devastating Hospital Paracetamol Error
A mum-of-two, Laura Higginson, from Widnes, Cheshire, tragically died from sepsis and multi-organ failure after being given “staggered overdoses” of paracetamol at Whiston Hospital, reported by the Express. The 30-year-old, who was 5ft 1in tall and weighed just six stone, was admitted to the hospital on April 5, 2017, with suspected pneumonia.
During a month-long inquest, Coroner Simon Holder heard evidence that Laura received paracetamol doses too high for a woman of her size. Between April 5 and April 7, Laura was administered three 1g doses of paracetamol intravenously each day. On April 7, she was given a 500mg dose before medics realized the mistake and administered an antidote, the Echo reports.
Despite the overdoses, the coroner concluded that it could not be proven, on the balance of probabilities, that they contributed to Laura’s death. He stated, “On the evidence I have heard, from April 5 to April 7, Laura Higginson was administered excess staggered doses of paracetamol while a patient at Whiston Hospital. It has not been proven, on the balance of probabilities, that this contributed to her death days later.”
Laura’s condition worsened rapidly on April 7, leading to her placement in an induced coma in the intensive care unit. Her health continued to decline, and on April 18, her husband, Anthony, and their children, Steven, nine, and Evelyn, seven, were called to the hospital to say their goodbyes. Laura passed away on April 19, with the official cause of death recorded as multi-organ failure with sepsis, cirrhosis, and pancreatitis.
The hospital admitted to administering excess paracetamol but argued that the overdose did not cause her death, as they immediately gave her an antidote. Coroner Holder rejected the hospital’s request for a conclusion of death by natural causes and the family’s request for a finding of neglect.
“I cannot find that the failures by the Trust amounted to a gross failure to provide the basics in medical care,” Holder said. “The failures of care do have to be gross, and I don’t find that the failures here—that mistake of administering the paracetamol—amounts to a gross failure.”
The court heard that the hospital had implemented safeguarding measures since Laura’s death. However, Holder criticized the hospital for not informing Laura’s family of the overdose until three months later and announced he would write to the CQC to address the issue.