British police are to investigate the death of teenager Oliver McGowan, who was prescribed antipsychotic medication that an inquest said led to his death.
The drug in question, Olanzapine, was administered to Oliver, 18, from Bristol, at the city’s Southmead Hospital in 2016. The hospital administered the drug against the wishes of Oliver and his parents Tom and Paula McGowan.
Medical records indicated Oliver had an intolerance to anti-psychotic drugs. Shortly after the hospital gave him the dose he developed severe brain swelling and died.
Treatment for a seizure
Oliver, who had a diagnosis of autism, epilepsy and mild learning difficulties, initially attended Southmead Hospital for treatment for a seizure.
However, his parents report that medics ignored supporting letters from other consultant doctors. These letters said that Oliver was not mentally ill and was sensitive to antipsychotic medications.
Oliver’s voice was ‘wilfully ignored’
Welcoming the launch of what is now a criminal investigation by Avon and Somerset Police, Paula McGowan said that Oliver’s voice was “wilfully ignored in life and up until now muted in death”.
She said: “Nobody is above the law.” She added: “It is the responsibility of the Crown Prosecution Service to now allow Oliver’s story to be heard in a court of law.”
To date, no arrests have been made. A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset Police said: “Police are investigating the circumstances behind the death of Oliver McGowan in 2016. As part of the inquiry, they will interview a number of individuals as they seek to establish the circumstances around Oliver’s death, before seeking advice from the Crown Prosecution Service.”
‘Too many laws broken and ignored’
Paula said: “For too long too many laws have been broken and ignored where learning-disabled people are concerned. We have the Mental Capacity Act, the Equality Act, the Human Rights Act, but it seems these laws are not adhered to for this group of people.”
She continued: “The Learning Disabilities Mortality Review programme has reported that there are well over 1,200 preventable deaths in learning-disabled people every year. Oliver was one of them.”
Mandatory training in autism and learning disability
Oliver’s parents have led a vigorous campaign for doctors and nurses to receive manatory training in autism and learning disability.
A police investigation into Oliver’s death is likely to give further weight to ongoing calls for an overhaul in the care of people with autism and learning disability when they come into contact with NHS staff.
Related:
- New probe into death of Oliver McGowan
- Petition demands police train in autism
- Mum petitions for forced autism training
Published: 2 July 2020