International   

Doctor of Indian origin convicted of manslaughter

LONDON: A doctor of Indian origin has been convicted of manslaughter and given a six-month suspended jail sentence for causing the death of a patient in her care 10 years ago.

Priya Ramnath (60), who worked in a government hospital in Stafford, Midlands, was accused of injecting Patricia Leighton, an intensive care patient, with adrenaline in July 1998 despiteshe being warned by three colleagues.

Prosecution claimed that she also failed to consult the hospital anaesthetist before giving the drug to Ms. Leighton.

Dr. Ramnath, who now lives in America, returned to Britain last February to face the charge after being threatened with extradition. A jury at Birmingham Crown Court found her guilty of manslaughter by gross negligence. The jury voted 10 to 2 against her.

Earlier the Prosecution told the court that Ms. Leighton, who was being treated in the intensive therapy unit, died of heart failure shortly after being given the drug. The prosecuting lawyer, Michael Burrows, said that within moments of the injection Ms. Leighton jerked forward in her bed and exclaimed: “What’s happening to me? I am going to die.”

Minutes later, she lost consciousness and died. Dr. Ramnath denied the charges.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

5,100 civilians rescued: Colombo
Devolution package: Bogollagama
Israel seeks Shalit’s release
Doctor of Indian origin convicted of manslaughter
‘U.S. for long-term ties with Pakistan’
U.S. will talk but ready to act, Iran told
Global dismay at A.Q. Khan release
Key post for Rathod
Arms looted from police post

Copyright © 2009, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu