Adrenalin case doctor is guilty

A doctor has today been found guilty of manslaughter after giving a dose of adrenalin to a patient against the advice of senior colleagues.

The jury at Birmingham Crown Court found Priya Ramnath guilty of manslaughter by gross negligence by a majority of 10 to two, more than 10 years after the death of Burntwood woman Patricia Leighton at Stafford Hospital. She had been admitted to Stafford hospital in July 1998 with a septic shock from an infected bunion.

Mrs Leighton's daughter Debbie Leighton-Newton, aged 39, broke down in tears as the verdict was read out.

Ramnath, aged 40, who moved to the United States shortly after Mrs Leighton's death at the age of 51 but was extradited last year, was given six-months in prison suspended for two years.

Mrs Leighton's family said they were happy that justice has been served.

In a statement they said: "A lot of lives got wrecked the day she was taken from us.