Trial of Psychiatrist Continues - Damning Testimony

As reported by the Times and Star

A Doctor told a court how a psychiatrist, accused of the manslaughter of a patient, gave the impression that the overdose which proved to be lethal was "not significant".

Charles Brett also said he did not know Peter Fisher was unregistered, adding he would not let such a person work in his department at Whitehaven’s West Cumberland Hospital.

Fisher, 46, is on trial at Carlisle Crown Court where he denies the manslaughter of patient Peter Weighman through gross negligence on September 23, 2002.

The Whitehaven handyman died after taking an overdose of 50 coproxamol tablets at the hospital’s Yewdale ward.

Despite being told Mr Weighman had taken the tablets, Fisher, who now lives in Devon, left him overnight without any treatment.

Mr Brett, a consultant in the hospital’s accident and emergency department, said he saw Fisher in his ward looking at a paracetamol poisoning chart before the death.

“He indicated to me that he was looking at a paracetamol chart because he was seeing a patient who alleged he had taken an overdose of coproxamol,” he told the court.

Mr Brett told the jury how he had seen people stop breathing 30 minutes after taking such an overdose.

The consultant said he warned Fisher of the "extreme dangers" of one of the drugs making up coproxamol.

“At the end of the discussion, I was given the clear impression this was a patient who had not really taken a significant overdose, but was saying so for manipulative means,” he added.

Alistair Webb QC, prosecuting, asked Mr Brett if he knew Fisher was not registered.

The court previously heard how Fisher had just returned to the UK from New Zealand but had withdrawn his membership of the General Medical Council in 1986.

Mr Brett replied: “No. We don’t allow unregistered doctors to work in any sense within the emergency department. If I found out someone was working without registration we would not be happy to allow that.”

Tim Holroyde, QC, defending, said the circumstances of the overdose and death were unusual. He pointed out that Mr Weighman was seen by staff at accident and emergency 90 minutes after he said he had overdosed.

He had left the Yewdale ward an hour after taking the pills and bought some sweets from the hospital shop on the way.

Mr Holroyde added that most people who died of coproxamol overdoses had done so before they reached hospital because the onset was so rapid.

The trial continues.