Painkiller blamed for fatal heart problem

A Waikanae call-centre operator died from an irregular heartbeat brought on by the administration of methadone for pain, Wellington Coroner Garry Evans has found.

Sonya Magson, 39, died in Wellington Hospital on March 4, 2004, and the death was referred to Mr Evans after an autopsy showed the likely cause was methadone overdose.

In his reserved finding, Mr Evans said Ms Magson was prescribed and was receiving methadone for stomach pain which was described as "distressing and having reached severe levels".

She was admitted to Wellington Hospital in March 2004 because of pain and gastric bleeding and prescribed methadone on an as-needed basis.

Over two days she was administered 215mg of methadone, the last dose being at 8.15pm on March 3.

She was found collapsed on the morning of March 4, and died later that day.

Wellington pathologist Dr Duncan Lamont found in his autopsy that the cause of death was "likely to be due to methadone".

But Mr Evans found Ms Magson died from cardia dysrhythmia (an irregular heartbeat), which resulted from the administration of methadone for pain relief.

"All the evidence points away from sedation and towards the development of a sudden change in her condition."

Symptoms of overdose included sedation, nausea, vomiting and dizziness, the court found.

"None of these signs and symptoms were reported or recorded in this case."

The coroner said he was satisfied with Ms Magson's treatment in hospital.

Mr Evans recommended that guidelines in the process of development for the use of methadone as pain relief in hospitals under the Capital and Coast District Health Board's jurisdiction be completed and issued as soon as reasonably practicable.

- NZPA