Dead doctor's parents to sue

Dr Massie collapsed at the end of an 86-hour shift

The parents of a junior doctor from Cheshire who died after working an 86 hour shift are planning to sue his employers.

Margaret and George Massie are convinced their son Alan worked himself to death, and they are basing their legal action on successful cases in Japan.

Dr Alan Massie, 27, collapsed on the day he finished his final shift of the week in the obstetrics and gynaecology unit at Warrington General Hospital in April 1994.

Mrs Massie said: "Alan was exhausted.

The Massies: inspired by Japanese cases

"Sometimes he worked 127 hours, and he would tell me that he felt like throwing his bleep against the wall.

"The day he died, he had slept and worked in the same clothes for a week."

At Dr Massie's inquest, the coroner blamed sudden adult death syndrome.

But his parents are convinced the pressure killed him.

Japanese actions

Death by overwork is known in Japan as 'karoshi', and is said to cause thousands of deaths there every year.

Dr Cary Cooper, a psychologist specialising in stress at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology said: "Death from overwork is a reality, and the Japanese actions could easily influence events over here.

"We already have people successfully suing after suffering ill-health due to work stress."

No-one at the North Cheshire Health Authority was available for comment.