Doctors treating a young woman who died after suffering from debilitating ME for a decade have denied any medics claimed her illness was not ‘physical', an inquest heard.
By Eirian Jane Prosser
Extracts
Maeve Boothby-O'Neill, 27, died at home in Exeter in October 2021 having suffered with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).
The inquest in Exeter heard Miss Boothby-O'Neill had been admitted to Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital three times that year for treatment for malnutrition.
Dr Ovishek Roy, a consultant gastroenterologist, told the hearing:
I do believe that everyone involved tried very hard to get the basics right, act in her best interest, discuss and get advice when needed and so on. I do believe everyone tried their absolute best. It is deeply sad, all of this. Without getting too personal I lost a sister at similar age to Maeve, so I understand your loss to some extent.
This was very, very sad and we were trying very hard and that's why I remained involved, as did the intestinal failure dietician. It wasn't part of our remit to remain involved, but we did because we knew how difficult it was and to try and to help each other.
This was a desperately sad case from the very beginning, and I got involved and remained involved because it was so challenging. Anyone who isn't eating or drinking… their life is at risk… regardless of their underlying pathology. There was huge concern that Maeve wasn't going to survive because she couldn't be nourished. In terms of accepting how at risk her life was, that was obvious from the start.
The inquest heard Miss Boothby-O'Neill was placed on a nasogastric tube for artificial feeding during her third hospital admission but due to complications it was removed.
Dr Roy said the further use of the tube was ruled out because of Miss Boothby-O'Neill's express wishes, and parenteral feeding through a vein was rejected because it would be unsafe in her case.
Dr Roy said he had never treated an ME case as severe as Mr O'Neill's daughter before but rejected suggestions doctors at the hospital did not regard it is as a physical illness.
There was no debate whether ME was a real condition. I am not saying I thought it was a psychiatric problem. I am fully accepting of everyone advising me of what ME is.
Dr Ovishek Roy, Consultant Gastroenterologist
The inquest, which is due to last two weeks, continues.
Further media coverage
- The Times: ME victim ‘could not be fed due to infection risk’ | 25th July 2024
- The Telegraph: Doctors treating ME patient relied on nutritionist with no expertise in condition, inquest hears | 25th July 2024
- BBC News: Doctors tried ‘hard' to treat ME patient – inquest | 25th July 2024
- Evening Standard: Doctors did ‘very best’ for young woman suffering with ME, inquest hears | 25th July 2024
- The National Scot: Doctors did ‘very best’ for young woman suffering with ME, inquest hears | 25th July 2024
- The Guardian: ME patient’s consultant tells inquest staff’s unfamiliarity with condition was ‘unfortunate’ | 25th July 2024