Investigation and inquest
A four day Article 2 Inquest was completed on 8th November 2019 into the death of Katharine Eva Stamp, without a jury
Circumstances of the death
Miss Stamp died whilst detained under the Mental Health Act as a result of sudden cardiac arrhythmia due to hypoxia. Hypoxia was the result of a combination of physical health factors including aspiration pneumonia and probable sleep apnoea – linked to obesity, smoking and the effects of clozapine on her respiratory system The lack of any effective national weight-gain monitoring programme for mental health inpatients was causally linked to her obesity and probable sleep apnoea
Coroner’s concerns
The side effects of clozapine, with specific reference to smoking and pneumonia, are under-appreciated Professor ████████ gave expert evidence to the Court These side effects may be rare, but they are still important The BNF does not provide sufficient clarity to prescribers about these side-effects