Family fury at blunders by medics

The family of an 18-year-old girl who died after a series of medical blunders have accused doctors of "gambling with her life".

Michelle Costigane died of blood poisoning after doctors first told her to take paracetamol for a cold, then prescribed antibiotics which were out of date. An inquest revealed medical errors including:

East Berkshire coroner Mr Peter Bedford concluded she died of natural causes and, despite the errors, her death was unavoidable. Summing up, he said: "Miss Costigane had an untreatable condition."

After the inquest in Windsor Ms Costigane's uncle Russell Walker, said of the doctor who prescribed the antibiotics: "He should not have taken a risk and he gambled on her life. He should have sent her to hospital straight away. It is easy to say in hindsight she could not be saved but why did he let a young woman suffer in agony for another night? Her death highlights failings in the system."

Student Ms Costigane, who was weeks from starting a degree at Glasgow University, had been with her boyfriend Chris at his Berkshire home, and was due to return to her family home in Glasgow when she fell ill.

Chris's mother Julie Wagland told the inquest: "Michelle first felt ill on a Sunday and we thought she had picked up flu. On Monday she saw my GP. He said she had a head cold and advised her to rest and take paracetamol". Her condition deteriorated and three days later another doctor gave her antibiotics and told her she had a chest infection. Mrs Wagland contacted an outofhours doctor and Michelle's parents. She said: "I drove her to see the doctor and she was so weak I had to carry her from the car.

"He said she had a urine infection and gave her some antibiotics. He said to take one and she would feel great in the morning". The family took Michelle to Heatherwood hospital, where, the inquest heard, she was left waiting on a trolley for more than an hour, and later Wexham Park hospital in Slough. Despite the best efforts of hospital staff, she died on Sunday morning, a week after she became ill.

Dr George Kassianos, of the Ringmead Practice in Bracknell, told the inquest that when he saw Michelle at his home, he told her the antibiotics were out of date but would still work. Mrs Wagland disputed that when she was recalled to the witness stand.