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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Patient did not die of starvation | 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, a coroner in Norfolk has ruled. | |
| Olive Nockels, 91, was admitted to 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, in Norwich, heard Mrs Nockels, of Holt, Norfolk, had been receiving fluids containing dextrose after being admitted to 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 rather than absorb fluid, doctors withheld 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. |
| We are glad that our very real concerns about my mother's treatment have been raised and heard in public Mrs Nockels's daughter Ivy West | |
| 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 after hospital consultant David Maisey expressed concerns about it to the judge. | But this was overturned after hospital consultant David Maisey expressed concerns about it to the judge. |
| 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 she developed 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, 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 | 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. |
| 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. | 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." | "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." |
| During the inquest it emerged that two of Mrs Nockels' daughters shared the views of medical experts, but Mrs West and her son disagreed with their opinions. | |
| Mr Armstrong said: "It is tragic there was a difference of view between the family. I do hope now that Olive will be allowed to rest in peace and I hope her family will be thankful for her long life." | |
| Linda Frost, 52, one of Mrs Nockels' daughters, said she no longer spoke to the Wests and added: "I would like my mother to rest in peace." | |
| Coroner William Armstrong recorded a verdict of death by natural causes. | Coroner William Armstrong recorded a verdict of death by natural causes. |