GP denies killing allergy patient

A former Devon GP charged with killing an elderly patient has denied she knew he was allergic to penicillin.

Dr Mitra Nikkhah, 41, who is now based in Dubai, denies manslaughter through gross negligence following the death of David Townsend in Plymouth in May 2006.

The pensioner went into anaphylactic shock and died at his home.

Plymouth Crown Court heard Dr Nikkhah could not find details on the surgery's computer about Mr Townsend's condition and so prescribed the medication.

Dr Nikkhah was working as a locum doctor at the St Budeaux Health Centre in Plymouth, Devon.

Phillip Mott QC, prosecuting, said Mr Townsend's wife, Joan, was very clear the couple had told Dr Nikkhah about the allergy as he has never been able to take penicillin.

'Dramatic' effect

But the court heard Dr Nikkhah told police she did not remember any conversation about penicillin other than when she asked if Mr Townsend suffered any allergies and the couple looked "confused".

The court was told she had explained to the couple that "if he comes out in a rash stop taking it".

The jury heard that after Mr Townsend took the first tablet he immediately went into shock and could not be saved by paramedics.

He was swollen up like the Michelin man, he looked dreadful, his head was three times the size Joan Townsend

Mr Mott told the court: "The effect was immediate and dramatic, his face swelled up, it was an allergic reaction to the tablet."

Joan Townsend told the court she knew to always tell doctors her husband was allergic to penicillin after he suffered a reaction in hospital in 1986.

The 72-year-old recalled the moment her husband suffered the reaction.

"He was swollen up like the Michelin man, he looked dreadful, his head was three times the size."

Mrs Townsend told the court they had returned from the surgery at about 1745 BST, her husband had taken the tablet, had suffered the reaction and was pronounced dead just after 1900 BST.

Mr Mott said: "To prescribe was gross negligence and the trigger that lead to his death.

"We are criticising her for going clearly against a clear indication from the patient without any proper research."

However, Timothy Langdale QC, defending, put it to Mrs Townsend that her husband had taken a number of different types of penicillin, such as amoxicillin, in the past without suffering a reaction.

She said: "If it wasn't marked penicillin I wouldn't have known."

She also told the court he would take many pills throughout the day and he took a number of others at the same time as the penicillin when he returned home from seeing the GP.

The court was told Dr Nikkhah was trained in Romania in 1995 before coming to the UK in 2001. She qualified as a locum GP in 2004.

The trial continues.