Doctor accused of fatal poisoning
A Christchurch medical researcher has died in a suspected suicide as police investigated claims she poisoned her partner last year and also fatally poisoned her husband nine years ago.
Dr Shelagh Isabella Dawson, 60, an epidemiologist, diabetes researcher and former lecturer at the Otago University School of Medicine, died at her Richmond residence about five weeks ago.
Before her death on May
9, police had approached her about her partner collapsing at home three times last year.
The partner, who Stuff has decided not to name, was rushed to hospital in June,
July and August after falling unconscious. Tests eventually revealed his blood contained five different types of prescription medicine.
All five drugs were then found in a large stash of drugs – described as ‘‘literally, a suitcase full’’ – discovered at Dr Dawson’s home.
They were all prescribed to Dr Dawson, a hypochondriac, by her own doctor for a number of conditions she claimed to have. The Medical Council is now investigating.
The partner grew suspicious when he woke in his hospital room to find Dr Dawson wearing gloves and administering what appeared to be a yellow substance to his IV line through a needle.
She claimed that she had worn the gloves because he was infectious and that he had seen a yellow pen.
After being discharged, the partner consulted his lawyers who advised making a complaint to the police.
Police found the partner’s symptoms were almost identical to those suffered by Dr Dawson’s husband, Graham Edward Dawson, before his death, aged 54, in September 2009. He also experienced a sudden collapse.