THE son of a patient with a history of schizophrenia who died after being wrongly prescribed anti-psychotic drugs has told an inquest that the days leading up to his father’s death were “torture”.
Michael Watkins, the owner of a local gardening business, died on 16 August 2021 from acute cardiac failure which followed neuroleptic malignant syndrome – a rare and life-threatening reaction to anti-psychotic drugs characterised by fever, muscle rigidity, and altered mental status.
Giving evidence yesterday on the penultimate day of the inquest, the head of the Island’s mental health service said that action had been taken since the death of Mr Watkins.
Andy Weir – executive director of mental health and adult social care – outlined some of the steps that had happened in the immediate aftermath of Mr Watkins’ death, and since he took up his role with the Health Department in January 2022.
If a similar scenario was to arise today, Mr Weir said, there was a care co-ordinator in place to provide additional support to patients and their family, and more joined-up working between those treating physical conditions in the acute setting of the General Hospital, and mental health patients on the St Saviour’s site.
Mr Weir said that an anti-psychotic drug such as Clozapine would not be stored in an emergency cupboard, as was the case in 2021, and that if a consultant pharmacist had been in post at the time – as was the case now – the same dose of the drug would not have been given.
Evidence from medical experts read out earlier to the inquest explained that, after Clozapine – which Mr Watkins had been prescribed for around ten years to treat his schizophrenia – had been stopped for more than 48 hours, it had to be reintroduced in small doses of around 12.5mg. However, upon admission to the Hospital on 7 July, Mr Watkins was given his normal 200mg dose of Clozapine – even though family members had made it clear that they suspected he had not been taking the anti-psychotic medication.
Mr Watkins’ son, Luke, described “39 days of torture” as he watched the events leading up to his father’s death in 2021.
In a statement read to relief coroner Sarah Whitby, Luke Watkins said he continually wondered whether his father would still be alive in other circumstances.
“I was left in the dark while I watched my dad deteriorate – he was in a tortured state, mentally and physically, and to witness this and be powerless was a traumatic experience.
“On one of his few good days, we’d talked about going on a nice long holiday once he was better – we had a fantastic relationship, and I was looking forward to him being in my life for many years.”
Luke Watkins said his father suffered unnecessarily because he had been given the wrong dose of Clozapine, while he also raised concerns about failings in care provided after this prescription.
“It was 39 days of torture,” he stated.
Although he said he was pleased to note an apology from the Health Department and the addressing of errors made at the time his father was being treated, so that others need not suffer in the same way, Mr Watkins added that he considered it “shameful that it took my dad’s death to bring about procedures that should already have been in place”.
Following the final evidence being presented yesterday, the fourth day of the inquest, Mrs Whitby is expected to deliver her findings today.
