Lung test ‘contributed to death of pensioner’ inquest jury told

Margaret Morley, from Batley, died aged 71 undergoing a bronchoscopy, a technique to check the airways and lungs, at Dewsbury and District Hospital in November 2008.

She had been suffering serious health problems, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Yesterday the inquest heard from Professor Duncan Geddes, a consultant in respiratory medicine, who reviewed the case.

He said Mrs Morley’s lungs were failing and that performing a bronchoscopy would make it harder for her to breathe during the procedure.

Mrs Morley was coming to the end of her life and the bronchoscopy was the “last straw” which resulted in her death, he said.

Although the procedure had “brought forward” her death, Professor Geddes said it had done so only by a few hours.

He said: “The decision to do the bronchoscopy, which I think can be questioned, was risky and I probably would not have recommended it.”

Professor Geddes also said that procedures for obtaining Mrs Morley’s consent for the procedure were “deficient”.

The inquest had previously heard the hospital had not obtained written consent but medics said they had verbal consent. Her family claim she was too confused to consent to it.

Professor Geddes rejected the possibility that anaesthetic lidocaine played a part in her death.

Mrs Morley’s family has claimed standards of care and communication were poor. The inquest, being heard before a jury, continues.