Heidi Knight acted for the family in an Article 2 jury inquest enquiring into the death of a patient who was detained under the Mental Health Act. The deceased died of cardiac arrest due to respiratory failure whilst detained in Gardner Ward, part of the East London Centre for Mental Health located at Homerton Hospital. The patient suffered cardiac arrest due to respiratory failure contributed to by sleep apnoea, clinical obesity, the residual effects of benzodiazepines, hypomania and antipsychotic medication.
The jury’s verdict was that “the cardiac arrest was due to respiratory failure as a result of inadequate and timely emergency treatment. From the moment the breathing difficulties were noticed there appears to have been confusion and a failure to recognize roles and responsibilities resulting in a delay in summonsing emergency assistance. There is also evidence to indicate staff had insufficient skills to operate emergency equipment. The equipment was not easily accessible and upon its failure staff had to travel a considerable distance to source replacements.”
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