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Patient died from natural causes Patient did not die of starvation
(about 1 hour later)
An elderly woman who died in hospital after spending four days without food died of natural causes, an inquest has ruled.An elderly woman who died in hospital after spending four days without food died of natural causes, an inquest has ruled.
Olive Nockels, 91, was admitted to the hospital in September 2003 after suffering a stroke and died in October. Olive Nockels, 91, was admitted to hospital in September 2003 after suffering a stroke and died in October.
The inquest heard that Mrs Nockels asked her family if she could have a cup of tea as she lay at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.The inquest heard that Mrs Nockels asked her family if she could have a cup of tea as she lay at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.
But the inquest found Mrs Nockels did not die of dehydration or starvation.But the inquest found Mrs Nockels did not die of dehydration or starvation.
The inquest, held in Norwich, heard Mrs Nockels had been receiving fluids containing dextrose after being admitted to the hospital. The inquest, in Norwich, heard Mrs Nockels, of Holt, Norfolk, had been receiving fluids containing dextrose after being admitted to hospital.
But after she developed an oedema, a build-up of excess fluid in the body, and started to secrete fluid rather than absorb it properly, doctors decided to withhold treatment. But after she developed an oedema - a build-up of excess fluid in the body - and started to secrete rather than absorb fluid, doctors withheld treatment.
Mrs Nockels died in October We are glad that our very real concerns about my mother's treatment have been raised and heard in public Laura GriffithsSolicitor
Members of Mrs Nockels's family subsequently obtained a High Court injunction ordering the treatment to be reinstated.Members of Mrs Nockels's family subsequently obtained a High Court injunction ordering the treatment to be reinstated.
But this was overturned the following day after hospital consultant David Maisey expressed concerns over it to the judge. But this was overturned after hospital consultant David Maisey expressed concerns about it to the judge.
Mrs Nockels, of Holt, Norfolk, died on 10 October.
The inquest heard that after being admitted to the hospital Mrs Nockels received 140 calories a day for 16 days, before treatment was withheld.The inquest heard that after being admitted to the hospital Mrs Nockels received 140 calories a day for 16 days, before treatment was withheld.
Mrs Nockels was receiving the fluids intravenously until her vein collapsed and she was then given fluids under her skin until developing oedema. Mrs Nockels was receiving the fluids intravenously until her vein collapsed and she was then given fluids under her skin until she developed oedema.
Giving evidence on Monday, consultant geriatrician Brian Payne, who examined Mrs Nockels, said she seemed confused when he asked her simple questions. Giving evidence, consultant geriatrician Brian Payne, who examined Mrs Nockels, said she seemed confused when he asked her simple questions.
Feeding tube
He said that when he broached the possibility of fitting a feeding tube she had not responded apart from telling him to stop or go away.He said that when he broached the possibility of fitting a feeding tube she had not responded apart from telling him to stop or go away.
Coroner William Armstrong recorded a verdict of death by natural causes in the case of Olive Nockels. Laura Griffiths, solicitor for Mrs Nockels's daughter Ivy West, said in a statement: "We are glad that our very real concerns about my mother's treatment have been raised and heard in public.
"We hope this will give families of stroke victims the confidence to ask for adequate nutrition and hydration for those who have suffered a stroke."
Coroner William Armstrong recorded a verdict of death by natural causes.