Drug death doctor admits failings

Peter Fisher denies manslaughter through gross negligence

A psychiatrist charged with the manslaughter of a suicidal patient has admitted to failures in his treatment.

Peter Fisher, 46, is accused of killing Peter Weighman, who died from a drugs overdose at West Cumberland Infirmary in Whitehaven in September 2002.

Dr Fisher, of Cullompton, Devon, denies manslaughter through gross negligence.

But he told Carlisle Crown Court he was at fault for not seeing Mr Weighman within two hours of the 39-year-old taking an overdose of pain killers.

There were certainly failures and I have to accept some were my responsibility Peter Fisher

Dr Fisher was in charge of the mental health ward, where the patient was being treated for depression, when he took the drugs.

After carrying out an examination and taking a blood sample, he said he was satisfied that Mr Weighman was sleeping off the overdose.

Mr Weighman died in the early hours of the following morning.

On Monday, Dr Fisher told the court: "I was devastated about his death. The nurses and myself were expecting him to fully recover.

'Under supervision'

"For his condition to change was a terrible tragedy. There were certainly failures and I have to accept some were my responsibility."

The court has already heard how Dr Fisher was not registered to work in the UK and could only work abroad under supervision, after a competence investigation in New Zealand.

He told the court he did not think it was relevant to mention the recommendations to his new employer in Cumbria because he was already effectively under supervision from a senior consultant.

But he said he was "surprised" when he was put on call within a month of joining as a locum doctor, despite the hospital knowing of his lack of GMC registration.

The trial continues.