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Student Died After Being Called a 'Time-Waster'
2 Jun
Summary
- Law student Libby Instone died from small intestine infarction.
- Medics dismissed her symptoms as gastroenteritis on multiple visits.
- Coroner stated neglect contributed to her preventable death.
A law student's death was attributed to medical neglect, an inquest has revealed. Libby Instone, 20, visited an urgent care centre multiple times over 24 hours in August 2023, complaining of severe vomiting and abdominal pain. Despite her persistent symptoms, medical staff diagnosed gastroenteritis and did not conduct adequate investigations or provide life-saving treatment.
Senior coroner Clare Bailey stated that the failure to consider anything other than gastroenteritis constituted gross failures in care. The coroner noted missed opportunities for scanning and treatment, concluding that Libby's death from an infarction of her small intestine was contributed to by neglect. Her family reported being told by a nurse that Libby was considered a 'time-waster'.
