The fact that a drug with known side effects led to the death of a pensioner has yet to be reported - almost three years after he died.

Now Access Legal from Shoosmiths, which represents the family of 83-year-old Jack Heel, is concerned for the safety of other patients.

The consumer legal services provider believes the medical profession is failing to report to the Medical and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) adverse reactions and fatalities caused by drugs

Mr Heel, from Northamptonshire, died in November 2007 after he was prescribed cyproterone acetate by his GP at Queensway Medical Centre, in Wellingborough..

It was prescribed at the instruction of Mr Heel's consultant at Kettering General Hospital, despite Mr Heel having suffered an adverse reaction to the drug in 1994.

He quickly became jaundiced, fell into a coma, and died of liver failure after being admitted to hospital.

Access Legal from Shoosmiths medical negligence specialist Phil Barnes said: "The adverse reaction and subsequent death of Mr Heel should have been reported to the MHRA in November 2007.

"The British National Formulary, which records all prescription drugs, their usage and side effects, states that 'all serious suspected reactions...should be reported even if the effect is well recognised'.

"Almost three years later, with the inquest having just taken place, the drug's role in Mr Heel's death still hasn't been reported. Who knows what might have happened to other patients prescribed the same drug in those intervening years?

"Cyproterone acetate certainly does have recognised side effects. Indeed, Mr Heel had an adverse reaction to it when he was first prescribed it back in 1994, when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. There is no excuse for failing to report it to the MHRA."

Five medical specialists who were witnesses at the inquest agreed that the matter should have been reported in 2007.

The coroner has instructed that the hospital report the matter to the MHRA.

Recording a narrative verdict, the coroner said Mr Heel's adverse reaction to cyproterone acetate had not been highlighted in his hospital records. Had it been, he would not have been prescribed the drug."

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