The Claimant is the brother of Sasha Drysdale, who died aged 52 on 28 March 2023 at an inpatient psychiatric unit [1]
Ms Drysdale had a history of involvement with mental health services and latterly had been diagnosed with a schizoaffective disorder for which she had been prescribed clozapine. At the time of her death, she was detained under Section 3 of the Mental Health Act 1983. It is not disputed that the medical cause of death was acute myeloid leukaemia (“AML”) transformed from myelodysplastic syndrome (“MDS”). [2]
[central issue was] Whether the Defendant’s decision not to leave to the jury the option of concluding that Ms Drysdale died of “Natural Causes contributed to by Neglect” was unlawful [7]
The inquest concluded that Ms Drysdale died as a consequence of Acute Myeloid Leukaemia transformed from myelodysplastic syndrome and that her death was due to natural causes. [31]
Given my conclusions that a verdict that Ms Drysdale died of “Natural Causes contributed to by Neglect” was not available on the evidence before the jury… Accordingly the claim must fail. [75]
medicalnegligencenow.com 