Ten doctors mistook killer brain disease for hangover

13 April 2012

A university graduate died after doctors misdiagnosed the rare brain disease he was suffering from as a hangover, an inquest heard.

Experts claimed John Mealey, 23, could have survived had medics realised he was suffering from herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) - a rare virus which causes swelling of the brain.

But instead they misdiagnosed Mr Mealey, who had been out partying with friends the night before, as showing the symptoms of alcohol-withdrawl.

Although the hospital specialises in neurological illnesses, doctors failed to order a brain scan until it was too late. Mr Mealey died nine days later.

Mr Mealey's father, also named John, said: "John was failed by those at the hospital.

"He was a great son, loved by everyone he met and his family miss him.

"It is bitterly ironic that this should happen at a centre for excellence for this very type of condition."

Liverpool Coroner's Court heard that Mr Mealey had been out drinking and celebrating with friends on November 18 last year.

The following day Mr Mealey, who worked as a civil servant, started feeling unwell. He developed a fever, started vomiting and complained of aching limbs and a strong headache.

He was admitted to Aintree Hospitals NHS Trust - a specialist neurological centre in Liverpool - later the same evening, after suffering a seizure.

Over the next few days, Mr Mealey, a graduate of Edge Hill University, Ormskirk, Lancashire, was seen by 10 different doctors who all believed he was suffering from alcohol-withdrawl.

He was admitted to a ward with other patients with alcohol-related illnesses and medics believed his condition was improving.

They even planned to discharge him and it was only when Mr Mealey, from Walton, Liverpool, suffered another series of fits that they finally ordered a brain scan. But by then it was too late.

The scan revealed Mr Mealey was suffering from HSE, a brain virus which affects just one in 500,000 people every year. He lapsed into unconsciousness and was declared brain dead on November 28 last year.

Santro Sarker, consultant physician and gastroenterologist at the hospital, told the court that patients have a 70 to 80 per cent chance of survival if the condition is properly diagnosed and treated.

The hearing also heard from another doctor, Dr Peter Williams, consultant physician at the Royal Liverpool Hospital, who said Mr Mealey's symptoms pointed to HSE and that the brain scan should have been ordered sooner.

Medics should have been prepared for the worst case scenario, he added.

Recording a narrative verdict, coroner Andre Rebello refused to criticise the hospital, but said there had been "missed opportunities" which may have given Mr Mealey a better chance of survival.

Mr Mealey's girlfriend, Gemma Schneider, 23, has been devastated by his death. She said the couple, who lived together, had planned to go backpacking around Canada later this year.

"John was always dreaming about where we could go and he had loads of ambition," Miss Schneider added.

The hospital has released a statement expressing regret for Mr Mealey's death and saying that steps had been taken to reduce the risk of a similar tragedy happening again.

"The trust sincerely regrets that there was a delay in commencing the appropriate treatment for Mr Mealey's quite rare condition," the spokesman said.

"Steps have been taken to ensure that clinical staff learn from this case to reduce the risk of a recurrence.

"The trust wishes to extend its condolences to Mr Mealey's family."

HSE, which causes swelling of the brain, can affect people of either sex and at any age.

Around 200 cases are recorded in the UK each year but the condition is thought to be under-diagnosed.

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