Investigation and inquest
On 12th March 2014 I commenced an investigation into the death of Lee Hollman, 36 years of age. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 12th March 2014. The medical cause of death given was:
1a. Quetiapine and Trazodone toxicity
1b.
1c
2.
My conclusion was: He took his own life.
Circumstances of the death
Mr Hollman had a long history of intermittently severe mental ill-health. He was prescribed Quetiapine by his psychiatrists in May 2013 instead of Trazodone which was discontinued. He asked for a repeat prescription of his medication in November 2012 and Trazodone was prescribed as it was not removed from his repeat prescription. Mr Hollman's dose of Quetiapine was increased to 300mg in January 2014 following an overdose. Whilst this increased dose was added to his medical records, the previous lower dose (200mg) was not removed which resulted in two prescriptions being issued at his next repeat request. The system in place was that the duty doctor of the day, who may be a vocational trainee, was expected to sign all the repeat prescriptions (often over 100) of the day whilst having a clinic and organising visits and other issues which may arise. Also, there was no system to ensure that repeat prescriptions of more than one page were kept together. Mr Hollman did not have a review of his medication within GP practice guidelines. Whilst unused medication was kept at his house the circumstances were such that he was given a greater quantity of this medication that should have been prescribed. He took an overdose of Quetiapine and Trazodone and alcohol from which he succumbed on 28th February 2014.
Coroner’s concerns
1. Failure to maintain sufficiently accurate and updated medical records
2. Failure to remove Trazodone from the repeat prescription record
3. Failure to delete the ‘old’ dosage of Quetiapine from the relevant medical records
4. The lack of an effective system to issue repeat prescriptions
5. Failure to review patients within their own guidelines with regard to repeat prescriptions