High Court burial decision sought

Violet Lakey's family still have questions about how she died

A man from Kent has been to the High Court to try to stop a hospital from burying the body of his wife, who died from cancer in January 2006.

Michael Lakey, of Strood, believes his wife Violet's death was suspicious. He wants more tests as he is not happy about the cause of death recorded.

"The family wants peace of mind... we want to know what happened," he said.

Mr Justice Silver reserved judgment and said a decision would be given on the case next week.

NHS Medway said after the death of Mrs Lakey, who died at home, samples were taken for testing by independent experts, who found "no evidence that her death was in any way hastened by the fact she took non-prescription pain relief as well as her cancer medication".

Michael Lakey said the family wanted justice

The Medway Primary Care Trust said that tests were carried out and the death was referred to the coroner, who decided that Mrs Lakey had died of natural causes.

Mr Lakey has always maintained that her death was caused by medical negligence, and said that after 10 months of being in dispute with the Trust, he went to mediation at which it was agreed further tests would be carried out.

But independent scientific advice given to the Trust said after so much time had elapsed further tests would not be useful.

Since her death from cancer of the liver in January 2006, which was recorded as the cause of death on her death certificate, Mrs Lakey's body has been kept in the Trust's mortuary at Medway Maritime Hospital.

Her husband has asked the High Court to take out an injunction against the hospital to stop his wife from being buried.