Mother died ‘after becoming addicted to painkillers’
- Parents tell inquest how their daughter repeatedly complained of heath issues
- She ignored her GP and went from hospital to hospital seeking medical advice
- The 24-year-old was found dead at her home with three drugs in her system
- An inquest is being held in Stockport to examine the causes of her death
Richard Spillett for MailOnline
36
View
comments
Sarah Jones died at her home amid fears she had become addicted to painkillers and was making repeated trips to AE
A young mother died with a cocktail of drugs in her system after repeatedly ‘self-diagnosing’ on the internet and going from hospital to hospital seeking medical advice, an inquest has heard.
The heartbroken family of Sarah Jones told an inquest of their fears she was ‘fabricating’ health problems and may have become addicted to painkillers.
The 24-year-old died at her home in Stockport last August with toxicology reports revealing she had doses of two different painkillers and an anti-depressant in her system.
Her parents told a coroner how they struggled to help her in the months before her death, as she forced them away if they questioned her complaints.
Her mother, Lisa Smith, said: ‘She would alienate me from her life if I didn’t agree with her symptoms.
‘She was complaining that she was in a lot of pain and she made me ring the hospital because her name had been blacklisted by the hospital.
‘When paramedics arrived she went full drama queen – it was like she was putting on an act. I think she was fabricating what was wrong with her. Towards the end of her life her personality changed and she became rude.’
Her father, Steven Jones, said the problems began when his daughter started collapsing at home.
Her parents told an inquest how they tried to help her as she repeatedly insisted she was ill
Mr Jones told the inquest: ‘She kept complaining of having headaches but at first she wasn’t saying there was much wrong and she kept the medical part of her life private and she wouldn’t let me talk to the doctors.
‘She would always go to Accident and Emergency and not see a doctor if she was in pain.
‘She thought she knew more than the doctors and nurses and she would always be looking things up on the internet for possible causes of what was going on. I was concerned that she was self-diagnosing herself.
-
Cambridge-educated university lecturer whose friend died…
Mother-of-four, 34, whose fiancé was killed in the Shoreham…
‘If she didn’t get an answer from one hospital she would discharge herself and go to another hospital.
‘I think she went to every single hospital in Manchester, except Tameside, as she said it didn’t have a very good reputation.’
In one incident, the inquest heard, she collapsed on a train station platform after taking morphine.
Miss Jones posted photos of herself receiving treatment and her ailments online
Her father said: ‘I think she became addicted to pain killers. People were worried about her so I went round to help her out and there was a bin bag just full of medication and when I tried to take it she was panicked and got upset.
‘Some of the medication had already expired and it didn’t look like she was actually taking any of it.
‘When I offered help she would always refuse which really hurt me because I so much wanted to but she just wouldn’t accept it.’
He added: ‘She had morphine patches that she stuck on her back. Every time she went to hospital she had medication already in her bag as well as what the hospital gave her.
‘After she was discharged from Stepping Hill the last time she said she couldn’t walk without being in pain.
‘We offered her private help but she refused that as well and she didn’t want any help from her family. I don’t think she was a very good judge of what was wrong with her even in the beginning.’
Details of the build-up to her death were heard at Stockport Coroners Court this week
Miss Jones’ GP, Dr Caroline Gormley, told the inquest that she was made aware of the mother making up an illness and she was shocked that someone Miss Jones’ age would need the amount of help she was receiving.
She said: ‘When I saw the amount of attendances at A+E I was concerned. I tried to talk to her about it but she would just shut down so I contacted mental health services because I felt she needed it. But following that she did not come back to the surgery even if I asked her to after attending hospital.’
Stockport Coroners’ Court heard the three drugs found in her system were not in large enough doses to be considered an overdose.
But each drug could have lowered her rate of breathing and may have contributed to her death.
The inquest continues. Assistant Coroner, Anna Morris, is expected to give a verdict tomorrow.
Share or comment on this article
-
‘Mowgli girl’ who walks on all fours and does not speak… -
Woman falls off California’s tallest bridge trying to… -
Father driven to kill by grief: The true story of the… -
Eleven-year-old boy killed himself ‘after his 13-year-old… -
Aggressive passenger is recorded telling an Uber driver… -
Parents face criminal record after father who took his… -
Missing mother Samantha Baldwin, 40, is arrested for… -
Surgeon hailed a hero after picture shows him sleeping on… -
BREAKING NEWS – ‘No child of God should ever suffer such… -
A Current Affair reporter Ben McCormack, 42, is suspended… -
Police launch desperate search for schoolgirl, 15, who… -
‘My children… they were beautiful’: Syrian father whose… -
Donald’s dinner table diplomacy! President Trump is… -
‘Something should happen’ says Trump after Syria… -
Teenager, 15, was found dead in his family’s garden… -
EXCLUSIVE – ‘She wants to tell her story’: Mel B is… -
‘I want my mommy’: Pedophile FILMED girl, four, screaming… -
It’s a ‘total lie!’ says Steve Bannon following report he…
Comments 36
Share what you think
-
Newest -
Oldest -
Best rated -
Worst rated
The comments below have been moderated in advance.
The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.
Close
Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual.
Your comment will be credited to your MailOnline persona.
Close
Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual
We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook.
The post will be credited to your MailOnline username. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.