Mum-of-two, 30, died just days after hospital staff made huge paracetamol mistake

In a heartbreaking incident, a -of-two who weighed just six stone tragically died from and multi-organ failure after being given “staggered overdoses” of paracetamol by hospital staff. Laura Higginson, hailing from Widnes, Cheshire, was initially admitted to Whiston with what was believed to be pneumonia on April 5, 2017.

During her stay, she received excessive paracetamol dosages over several days before the error was spotted by medical personnel. A month-long inquest delved into the details surrounding the death of the 30 year old, who stood at 5ft1 and weighed a mere 6st, revealing that she was administered doses too large for someone of her stature.

Coroner Simon Holder stated after hearing all the : “On the evidence I have heard, from April 5 to April 7 Laura Higginson was administered excess staggered doses of paracetamol while a patient at Whiston Hospital. It has not been proven, on the balance of probabilities, that this contributed to her death days later.”

The court also learned that upon her arrival at the hospital on April 5, Laura received three 1g doses of paracetamol intravenously. This regimen continued on April 6, and on April 7, she was given a final 500mg dose when the mistake came to light, prompting the administration of an antidote, as reported by

On April 7, Laura’s health took a grave turn and she was swiftly moved into the ICU, where doctors put her into an induced coma the next day. Despite medical efforts, she continued to fail and on April 18, her husband Anthony and their two children were sadly summoned to bid farewell.

She passed away the next day, April 19, 2017; her tragic passing was attributed to multi-organ failure stemmed from sepsis, cirrhosis, and pancreatitis. The hospital acknowledged an overdose of paracetamol in Laura’s treatment but insisted the immediate administration of an antidote meant it wasn’t the cause of her death.

Mr Holder, the coroner, dismissed both the hospital trust’s proposal for a verdict of natural causes and the family’s claim of neglect. He stated firmly: “I have heard the (Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS) Trust’s submission that a conclusion of natural causes would be appropriate. That is rejected.

“I also cannot accept the family’s submission that neglect be recorded as a finding. I must explain… that neglect in coronial law is quite different. The definition of neglect in this context means a gross failure to provide adequate nourishment or liquid, or provide or procure basic medical attention or shelter or warmth for someone in a dependent position.”

The judge concluded, “I cannot find that the failures by the Trust amounted to a gross failure to provide the basics in medical care. The failures of care do have to be gross, and I don’t find that the failures here – that mistake of administering the paracetamol – amounts to a gross failure.”

He decided against writing a regulation 28 report for the prevention of future deaths after hearing about the new safeguarding measures implemented at the hospital following Laura’s death. However, he did express his intention to write to the CQC, as Laura’s family were left in the dark about the paracetamol overdose until three months after her passing.