Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Parents say crucial report into teen’s death ‘changed’
AGRIEVING mum, whose son died days after going into hospital with a seizure, claims a crucial report investigating the circumstances of his death was changed.
Oliver McGowan, who had mild autism, was 18 years old when he was taken to Southmead Hospital with partial seizures.
The teenager from Emerson’s Green was given anti-psychotic medication, Olanzapine, against his and his parents’ wishes who had warned doctors he previously suffered from an allergic reaction to the drugs.
The medication caused him to have Neuroleptic Malignant Syn-
They have dehumanised Oliver and belittled the person he was PAULA MCGOWAN
drome (NMS) and his brain swelled until it came out from the base of his skull.
Since Oliver’s death, his parents Paula and Tom, have been fighting for all NHS staff to have mandatory training on caring for patients with autism and intellectually disabled people.
After a year of campaigning, the Government has launched a consultation into rolling out the new legislation.
Health bosses also decided to launch a Learning Disabilities Mor- tality Review (LeDeR) into the circumstances which led to Oliver’s death.
But Paula says important changes have been made between the draft version of this independent review and that of the published one.
She claims one crucial question asks: “Was the death, on balance, potentially avoidable?” A box below is ticked “Yes” but in the published version the same box is blank.
She said: “The CCG should not be responsible for the review if it’s to be independent, but should be accountable for the recommendations.
“It is concerning that the CCG can not be trusted to do this investigation, impartially and without predejuce. They have dehumanised Oliver and belittled the person he was.”
Paula also claims she has received a damning Freedom of Information from the CCG.
She said: “I haven’t published the emails yet but it’s really shocking when you see the level that they’re trying to cover their tracks.
“Nothing is going to bring Oliver back, but I want to make sure no one else goes through what Oliver went through. We want to make sure the right training is in place so this never happens again.”
A CCG spokesperson said the report will soon be discussed by the authority’s bosses.
“We commissioned an independent panel to carry out Oliver’s LeDeR multi-agency review and shared the report from this with his family in November last year,” he said.
“Since then, and following feedback from Oliver’s family, we have commissioned an independent expert in the LeDeR process to examine the steps taken in carrying out his LeDeR review and to make any recommendations for further action that are considered appropriate.
“The report from this work will be presented and discussed in public at the CCG’s Governing Body meeting and we will ensure that its recommendations are implemented in full.”
At an inquest last year, assistant coroner Dr Peter Harrowing said the drug was a “significant contributory factor” in Oliver’s death but concluded medics could not have predicted his “very rare” reaction to it.