Family of TV’s Lewy say he was ‘killed by the NHS’
THE death of one of Britain’s favourite comedy actors is being investigated by police after his family claimed he was killed by a drugs overdose – given to him by NHS medics. Howard Lew Lewis – who starred in Maid Marian and Her Merry Men, Brush Strokes and Blackadder – died earlier this month at a community hospital in Edinburgh.
But police have now opened an inquiry after the 76-year-old’s daughter claimed he was needlessly treated with high-dose sedatives and maximum-strength opiate painkillers. Medical experts have also questioned the apparently ‘inappropriate’ treatment.
Mr Lewis’s daughter, Debora Milazzo, told the Scottish Mail on Sunday: ‘My dad was killed by the NHS. Justice needs to be done.
‘My father kept so strong for so long and it was only the new medication that killed him.’
Mr Lewis, known to friends and fans as ‘Lewy’, was in the early stages of dementia and died on January 20 at Ellen’s Glen House.
Medical records show that nurses changed his drug regime on Christmas Eve.
Alfentanil, an opiate 30 times the strength of oral morphine, was pumped through a line in combination with Midazolam, a sedative that prevents the creation of new memories.
A former senior NHS executive told the newspaper this combination of drugs would be appropriate only for a patient ‘in the terminal phase of a malignant disease’.
But Miss Milazzo, 42, insisted her father had not received a terminal diagnosis.
She said: ‘My father didn’t have cancer, he didn’t have heart disease. They suddenly just changed his medication and it was the new medication that killed him.’
She told the newspaper she has filed official complaints with NHS Lothian and healthcare watchdog the Care Inspectorate.
The former NHS executive said: ‘I cannot conceive of circumstances which would necessitate the repeated administration of these drugs. I am not in the least surprised that the patient died.
‘In a nutshell, these drugs stop people breathing.
‘If this were my relative I would postpone funeral arrangements until inquiries have been initiated – I personally believe this is a police matter and demands immediate action.’
A post-mortem will be carried out by a state pathologist but Mr Lewis’s daughter is arranging to commission a second, independent exam.
Mr Lewis, born in London in 1941, worked as a paper delivery boy and a computer operator for the RAF before turning to acting.
He became a fixture on television and worked alongside household names such as Ronnie Barker and Rowan Atkinson.
He was best known as Rabies in the Bafta-winning BBC children’s show Maid Marian and Her Merry Men, created and written by close friend and co-star Sir Tony Robinson. In the 1980s hit Brush Strokes, Mr Lewis was the foolish pub landlord Elmo Putney. He also had several guest roles as peasants in the first series of Blackadder.
Other credits include Terry Gilliam’s Brazil, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, and Minder.
He married in 1990 and while he and Scots wife Anna divorced in 2007, they stayed on good terms.
Mr Lewis moved from Surrey to Edinburgh two years ago to live with stepdaughter Miss Milazzo after battling long-term health issues – including a stroke and losing a leg to diabetes in 2011.
Police Scotland said: ‘We are currently investigating the death of a 76-year-old man at an address in Edinburgh. The death is being treated as unexplained but is not thought to be suspicious.
‘A report has been submitted to the procurator fiscal.’
Dr Tracey Gillies, medical director of NHS Lothian Trust, said: ‘Our condolences are with Mr Lewis’ family at this sad time.
‘It would not be appropriate to discuss any details from his medical record. All of the normal procedures, which include informing the procurator fiscal of his death, have been carried out.
‘If any of the family have concerns or questions they should make contact with us.’
‘Justice needs to be done’ ‘Police Scotland are investigating’