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Inquest to decide if police restraint contributed to hospital patient's death Inquest to decide if police restraint contributed to hospital patient's death
(35 minutes later)
The decision to handcuff a very ill and confused hospital patient is to come under scrutiny, as an inquest jury retires to consider the extent to which the restraint contributed to the 57-year-old’s death. The decision to handcuff a seriously ill and confused hospital patient is to come under scrutiny, as an inquest jury retires to consider the extent to which the restraint contributed to the 57-year-old’s death.
Philmore Mills died minutes after police placed him on the ground with his face to the floor and handcuffed him. Mills had become confused and allegedly verbally aggressive towards a nurse. Philmore Mills died minutes after police placed him face-down on the ground and handcuffed him. Mills had become confused and allegedly verbally aggressive towards a nurse.
He had been admitted to Wexham Park hospital, Berkshire, with a chest infection and an irregular heartbeat on 21 December 2011. He died six days later, in the early hours of 27 December.He had been admitted to Wexham Park hospital, Berkshire, with a chest infection and an irregular heartbeat on 21 December 2011. He died six days later, in the early hours of 27 December.
The jury at Reading coroner’s office has been asked to decide the medical cause of death, choosing one of three pathologist reports, all of which refer to the restraint.The jury at Reading coroner’s office has been asked to decide the medical cause of death, choosing one of three pathologist reports, all of which refer to the restraint.
The inquest heard that Mills was diagnosed with a tumour on his lung and pneumonia when first examined and was treated in intensive care. A few days later, he was moved from intensive care to a respiratory ward but was still experiencing shortness of breath. The jury heard that this can lead to hypoxia, a dangerous depletion of oxygen being delivered to the body, which in turn can cause confusion. The inquest heard that Mills was diagnosed with a tumour on his lung and pneumonia when first examined and was treated in intensive care. A few days later, he was moved from intensive care to a respiratory ward but was still experiencing shortness of breath. The jury heard that this can lead to hypoxia, a dangerous depletion of oxygen being delivered to the body, which can cause confusion.
The family of Mills had visited him on Boxing Day; his daughter, Rachel Gumbs, told the inquest that when she left his bedside between 7pm and 8pm, “he seemed OK but a little tired”.The family of Mills had visited him on Boxing Day; his daughter, Rachel Gumbs, told the inquest that when she left his bedside between 7pm and 8pm, “he seemed OK but a little tired”.
Later that night, Mills was said to have woken in a confused state and got out of bed, removing his oxygen mask and allegedly becoming verbally aggressive with staff. One nurse told the inquest she feared for her life. “He was like something out of a horror movie,” said Ankara Goswami, who was the senior nurse in charge on the night he died.Later that night, Mills was said to have woken in a confused state and got out of bed, removing his oxygen mask and allegedly becoming verbally aggressive with staff. One nurse told the inquest she feared for her life. “He was like something out of a horror movie,” said Ankara Goswami, who was the senior nurse in charge on the night he died.
The jury heard that police were called after the nurse was unable to summon a doctor. Officers were said to have put Mills on the ground, placed him on his front and handcuffed him with the assistance of two hospital security guards. The patient became unresponsive after he was restrained, the inquest was told, prompting the nurse to call the crash team, who failed to revive him.The jury heard that police were called after the nurse was unable to summon a doctor. Officers were said to have put Mills on the ground, placed him on his front and handcuffed him with the assistance of two hospital security guards. The patient became unresponsive after he was restrained, the inquest was told, prompting the nurse to call the crash team, who failed to revive him.
On Thursday, jurors were sent to consider their verdict. They had been asked by senior coroner Peter Bedford to decide the medical cause of death and whether someone had knelt on Mills’ shoulder during the restraint.On Thursday, jurors were sent to consider their verdict. They had been asked by senior coroner Peter Bedford to decide the medical cause of death and whether someone had knelt on Mills’ shoulder during the restraint.
Earlier this week, the jury heard that bruising was not found during the first examination of Mills’ body on 27 December, but bruising to the upper arms, neck and shoulder had developed by the second examination on 13 January 2012.Earlier this week, the jury heard that bruising was not found during the first examination of Mills’ body on 27 December, but bruising to the upper arms, neck and shoulder had developed by the second examination on 13 January 2012.
The jury has three choices in relation to medical cause of death. The first, presented by pathologist Ashley Fegan-Earl, acting for the coroner, concludes that the death was caused by “cardiorespiratory collapse” owing to “hypoxia”, as a result of “severe lung and heart disease in association with restraint”. The jury has three choices in relation to medical cause of death. The first, presented by pathologist Ashley Fegan-Earl, acting for the coroner, concludes that the death was caused by cardiorespiratory collapse owing to hypoxia, as a result of “severe lung and heart disease in association with restraint”.
Deryk James, acting for the family, offered a second description for the cause of death: “Sudden death in a man with pulmonary embolism and squamous carcinoma of the bronchus during struggle against restraint.”Deryk James, acting for the family, offered a second description for the cause of death: “Sudden death in a man with pulmonary embolism and squamous carcinoma of the bronchus during struggle against restraint.”
A third pathologist, Nicholas Hunt, acting for the Police Federation, concluded: “The sudden, restraint-associated death of a man with underlying squamous cell carcinoma of the lung (complicated by pneumonia and pulmonary thromboembolism) and ischaemic heart disease.”A third pathologist, Nicholas Hunt, acting for the Police Federation, concluded: “The sudden, restraint-associated death of a man with underlying squamous cell carcinoma of the lung (complicated by pneumonia and pulmonary thromboembolism) and ischaemic heart disease.”
The exact circumstances leading to the use of restraint have already been the subject of an investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission. Mills’ family are hoping the inquest will give them the answers they have sought in a four-year legal battle.The exact circumstances leading to the use of restraint have already been the subject of an investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission. Mills’ family are hoping the inquest will give them the answers they have sought in a four-year legal battle.
Jurors have been asked to return a “narrative verdict”, which allows them to give a longer explanation of the issues contributing to a person’s death. Jurors have been asked to return a narrative verdict, which allows them to give a longer explanation of the issues contributing to a person’s death.
Before they retired, jurors were told by Bedford that the inquest was “a fact-finding mission” and that they were not there to apportion blame. He said: “Your job is to, from the evidence, extract the facts and circumstances surrounding Mr Mills’ death.” Before they retired, jurors were told by Bedford that the inquest was a fact-finding mission and that they were not there to apportion blame. He said: “Your job is to, from the evidence, extract the facts and circumstances surrounding Mr Mills’ death.”