Healthy teenager died after taking acne medicine

Published on Friday 27 February 2009 19:44

A FIT and healthy young rugby player died 12 hours after taking treatment for acne, a coroner said yesterday.

Recording a narrative verdict, coroner Mary Hassell said 14-year-old Shaun Jones died "as a result of complications of medical treatment".

Shaun Jones, described by his mother as "vain" about his appearance, saw his doctor about spots on his back and shoulders after learning his friends had been given medication to deal with similar problems.

The 6ft schoolboy, of Rhydyfelin, near Pontypridd, South Wales, was diagnosed with mild acne and given a prescription, Cardiff Coroner's Court heard.

When he went to his local pharmacy with his mother, Clare, he was told the drug was out of stock. Shaun and his mother were told the pharmacist had spoken to the doctor, and he could be given different tablets that were exactly the same as the other medication.

Mrs Jones noticed there was no safety leaflet included in the box, but thought nothing of it at the time. Shaun took the medication just before going to bed at 10:30pm on 20 October.

Little more than an hour later, he complained to his parents of shortness of breath and tightness in his chest. Mrs Jones initially contacted an out-of-hours GP service, but was told no doctor was available. When Shaun's condition deteriorated, he was taken to hospital in Llantrisant by ambulance in the early hours of the morning.

Despite treatment there, and at the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, where he was transferred, Shaun died at 10:40am on 21 October.

Doctors believe an "idiosyncratic reaction" to the medication may have caused his death.

At the inquest yesterday, Ms Hassell said she would write a report to the Lord Chancellor's office underlining the importance that "patients receive drugs with the correct information attached".