Heart disease caused man's death

A man died from cardiac disease and not an allergic reaction to penicillin, a consultant has told a court.

Professor Kevin Channer was giving evidence at Plymouth Crown Court in the trial of Dr Mitra Nikkhah.

The 41-year-old, who now works in Dubai, has pleaded not guilty to manslaughter by gross negligence of David Townsend, 73, from Plymouth.

The prosecution claims Mr Townsend died from anaphylactic shock after taking penicillin she had prescribed.

Philip Mott QC said Mr Townsend and his wife, Joan, had both told Dr Nikkhah he was allergic to penicillin, but the defendant prescribed the drug because she could find no information on the surgery computer about his condition.

Narrowed arteries

He said Dr Nikkhah had explained to the couple that "if he comes out in a rash, stop taking it".

The jury heard after taking the first tablet, Mr Townsend, of Antony Gardens, immediately went into shock and could not be saved by paramedics.

However, giving evidence for the defence, Professor Channer, a consultant cardiologist at the Royal Hallam Hospital in Sheffield, told the jury: "I think this was a primary cardiac death."

The defendant was working as a locum at the St Budeaux Health Centre in Plymouth at the time.

She had told police she did not remember any conversation about penicillin, other than when she asked Mr Townsend if he suffered any allergies and the couple looked "confused".

Professor Channer said hospital medical records showed a doctor had asked Mr Townsend the nature of his allergy to penicillin.

The patient said it "gave him a sore throat", Professor Channer told the court, adding "that is not an allergic reaction to penicillin".

'Not likely'

Mrs Townsend had told the court after her husband took the medication he became swollen "like a Michelin man" with his head three times the size.

She said her husband had taken the tablet at 1745 BST, had suffered the reaction and was pronounced dead just after 1900 BST.

But the consultant said someone suffering a cardiac problem or failure could suffer swelling, particularly in a man of Mr Townsend's history.

He said the pensioner had a history of heart problems going back to 1986, as well as severe lung disease, diabetes and narrowed arteries.

When asked by defence council Timothy Langdale QC if, in his opinion, Mr Townsend died from anaphylatic reaction, Professor Channer replied: "It is possible he did, but I do not believe it is very likely."

Asked whether Mr Townsend died from a primary cardiac arrest in the context of the medical history described, Professor Channer said: "I think that is much more likely."

The trial continues.

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