Inquiry into death of girl after overdose of radiation

Published on Thursday 30 July 2009 22:13

AN INQUIRY is to be held into the death of a teenage cancer patient who was given massive overdoses of radiation.

Lisa Norris, of Girvan, Ayrshire, died in October 2006 aged 16, after being given 19 radiation overdoses at the Beatson Oncology Centre in Glasgow, where she was being treated for a brain tumour.

She was given radiation doses that were cumulatively 58 per cent higher than they should have been. They left her with burns on the back of her neck and head.

Post-mortem examination results revealed the cause of death was recurrent pineal blastoma, a type of brain cancer.

Last year, Lisa's parents, Ken and Liz Norris, said they were launching a legal action against NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, which they say failed in its duty of care.

They claim their daughter's treatment had to be interrupted because of the radiation overdoses and they have an expert witness linking this directly to her death.

Lawyer Cameron Fyfe said the family had received a letter from the Crown Office saying there would be a fatal accident inquiry.

Mr Norris said there were questions that needed to be answered by an inquiry.

He said: "We believe that the NHS broke health and safety rules and laws.

"We just try to live day to day, but it has been difficult."