Death of victim a ‘missed opportunity’ to uncover doctor’s crimes

THE death of one of Harold Shipman’s victims in 1995 was a “missed opportunity” to uncover the serial killer’s crimes, a report revealed yesterday.

Shipman went on to murder more than 100 people after the death of Renate Overton, 47, in April 1995 at Tameside General Hospital.

For 14 months before her death, Mrs Overton had been in a coma following a visit at her Hyde home by Shipman in February 1994 to treat her for an asthma attack.

While he was there, Shipman gave her a quantity of diamorphine, which he later noted in his patient’s records.

The chairman of the Shipman Inquiry, Dame Janet Smith, said in her report into death certification and coroners: “My conclusion was that Shipman had deliberately given Mrs Overton an overdose of diamorphine (or possibly morphine), intending to kill her, and that this had caused her collapse, her unconsciousness and, ultimately, her death.”

Dame Janet said the Mrs Overton’s death had “many disturbing features”. She said doctors at Tameside General Hospital were aware that Shipman had given a dangerous dose, but he was not reported.

“It seemed possible an opportunity to uncover Shipman’s criminality had been missed,” said Dame Janet.

Mrs Overton’s death was reported to the coroner, which “drew attention to the possibility that morphine administration with asthma had been an underlying cause of death”.

An autopsy recorded the death due to natural causes, no inquest was held and “it appeared possible that a second opportunity to uncover Shipman’s criminality had been missed,” said the report.

“A more thorough investigation was required but, even on the basis of the limited information available, an inquest was plainly necessary.”

Dame Janet said the performance of consultant pathologist Dr David Bee, who carried out the autopsy on Mrs Overton, was “seriously deficient”.

Speaking after the publication of the report, Dame Janet said: “There was a missed opportunity. There were a large number of deaths after 1995.”

She added that this case highlighted the inadequacy of coroners’ investigations generally and the shortcomings of the system which her recommendations aim to put right. Her recommendations included a “radical change” to the coronial system.

Mrs Overton’s daughter Sharon Carrington said: “We will never understand why those responsible for my mother’s care didn’t see fit to report Shipman’s treatment.

“Had they followed this up we believe it could have prevented many more deaths at Shipman’s hands.

“What we hope now is that our mother’s death wasn’t in vain and that any recommendations made for change will be implemented.”

Mrs Carrington said the family were still coming to terms with the way her mother died.

“The events on the day that my mother first fell ill happened so quickly we were left in a state of shock and extremely distressed.

“I remember that shortly after my mother’s admission to hospital something was mentioned to our family about Dr Shipman having administered morphine to my mother.

“At this time we had no real understanding of what the morphine had done, it was only when the police visited us that it was explained.”