A bad mother tragically died of multiple organ failure after an “unintentional” paracetamol overdose when she suffered from a cough and bad breasts.
Joan Ita Bergin was taking the drug without a prescription, as well as taking Lemsip to deal with her cough, but was rushed to hospital on Christmas Day, the Mirror reported.
Investigators have heard that her son Matthew called an ambulance after his mother’s condition worsened at their home in Lostock Hall, Lancashire.
The 58-year-old drank one sachet of Lemsip every four hours, but also told doctors she sometimes took more than the recommended amount of paracetamol.
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The New Zealand native was transferred to intensive care after side effects such as vomiting blood and was diagnosed with liver failure.
Ms. Bergin deteriorated in the following days and died on January 7.
An investigation into Ms. Bergin’s death took place in the Coroner’s court in Preston on Thursday, Lancs Live reported.
Assistant Coroner Kate Bisset concluded that she died of multiple organ failure caused by an accident related to her “unintentional paracetamol overdose.”
The recommended maximum dose of Lemsip is one sachet containing 1000 mg paracetamol every four to six hours.
But the mother also added extra paracetamol from time to time, the medical examiner was told.
Tests showed that she had “significantly elevated” liver enzymes and low oxygen levels, and she was eventually transferred to intensive care.
But her condition worsened and she was diagnosed with liver failure.
Liver specialists at Leeds General Hospital advised that no additional treatment options were available, and it continued to worsen, dying on January 7.
The investigation revealed that Ms. Bergin had experience with excessive alcohol.
General hospital in Leeds. (Image: SWNS)
Her son Matthew explained in a statement that she would drink three to four cans of cider every day before work and up to 10 cans on the weekends.
Ms Bissett said: “He says his mother was normally healthy, but rarely eats much, one full meal a week.
“Otherwise, she ate things like marmalade on toast. She drank a lot of water, but sometimes fainted due to lack of food.”
Counselor Patrick Horgan said in a statement that Ms. Bergin had significantly elevated liver enzymes and was diagnosed with liver damage due to inadvertent paracetamol overdose.
She received Parvolex as an antidote, but continued to have episodes of vomiting blood.
On January 4, Dr. Liam Morris noted that Ms. Bergin’s liver enzymes were deteriorating and she was diagnosed with acute liver failure.
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She died three days later of multiple organ failure, pneumonia and acute liver failure.
This is due to involuntary overdose of paracetamol.
Alcohol-related liver disease and esophageal ulcers are said to be contributing factors.
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