Medicine contributed to death

Anti-psychotic medicine contributed to the death of a woman at Maidstone Hospital, a coroner heard.

Zahra Handy, 61 died in September 2015 while detained under the Mental Health Act.

An inquest heard Ms Handy, born in Iran, had been sectioned under the mental health act for schizophrenia and was receiving care at the Trevor Gibbens Unit in Hermitage Lane.

She suffered from type two diabetes and was in the final stages of renal failure, having refused dialysis. She was taking clozapine at 200mg.

She was admitted to Maidstone Hospital’s Foster Clark Ward after a fall. She was found dead four days later after vomiting.

The cause of death was given as bowel obstruction, electrolyte imbalance, and diabetic kidney disease. Clozapine therapy was given as a secondary cause.

Recording a narrative verdict, assistant coroner Kate Thomas said it was evident Ms Handy had received appropriate care and her death could not necessarily have been avoided.