Doctor cleared of manslaughter

Maura Katherine O'Reilly died during feeding

A doctor has been cleared of causing the death of an elderly patient after she was fed through a tube incorrectly inserted into her lung.

Dr Hiral Hazari, 25, was found not guilty of the manslaughter of 78-year-old Maura Katherine O'Reilly.

Dr Hazari told Nottingham Crown Court he had never been asked to review x-rays that would have revealed a naso-gastric tube was not properly fitted to Mrs O'Reilly.

The jury also heard the doctor had not made any entries relating to the x-rays in the woman's medical notes.

Dr Hazari, of St Madoes, Perthshire, had been in charge of a ward at Leicester's Glenfield Hospital when Mrs O'Reilly was being treated.

Mrs O'Reilly died on 16 September, 2000, having contracted acute pneumonia after feed was poured through the tube and into her lung.