Teenager's death remains a mystery

The routine operation was to be carried out at the LGI

A verdict of death by misadventure has been recorded on a teenage girl from West Yorkshire who suffered a fatal reaction to a general anaesthetic.

Gemma Eastwood, 15, from Birstall, died at Leeds General Infirmary in 1998 after suffering major respiratory failure.

She had previously undergone a series of serious operations without incident.

The inquest in Wakefield heard that the condition was put down to drugs used for the anaesthetic, but a team of experts examining the case could not find any reason for it.

No explanation

Pathologist Dr Cedric Abbott, who conducted a post-mortem on Gemma, told the inquest that he could not explain why she experienced problems.

He added: "She must have developed a sensitivity for some reason."

Dr John Watkins, a retired consultant immunologist and expert on anaesthetic drug reactions, said he saw "no reason to suspect error or misjudgement by the theatre team".

But Mr Watkins said: "I really don't know why she had that reaction."

Routine check-up

Gemma's mother, Yvonne Eastwood, told coroner David Hinchliff that her daughter had at least eight operations before her death without any problem.

She said Gemma was diagnosed with a brain tumour at the age of 10 and was later found to have bowel cancer.

It was while she was being prepared for routine check-up surgery on her bowel that the fatal reaction happened.