Death By DIY Enema 
2003 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance
from:
http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=64361&command=displayContent&sourceNode=63913&contentPK=1719787
DIY ENEMA LED TO PIPE FITTER'S DEATH
09:30 - 18 May 2002
A pipe fitter from Derby died after giving himself an enema using a home-made metal pipe attached to a shower.
John Ross (54) regularly used the home-made implement, his girlfriend told an inquest at Derby Coroner's Court yesterday.
But, in April this year, he perforated his bowel and contracted peritonitis and blood poisoning, dying two days after being admitted to hospital.
The inquest heard that Mr Ross, of Grosvenor Street, had made a 19.5cm-long attachment for his shower, with which to wash out his bowel.
Dr David Semeraro, consultant pathologist at Derbyshire Royal Infirmary, examined it.
He said: "A long metallic tube had been attached to the shower hose. This was a modification which he had fashioned himself. It is highly probable this was the cause of the damage."
r Ross's girlfriend of 15 years, Maria Whatley, known as Tina, of Blackmore Street in Normanton, said that Mr Ross had taken a bath on Monday, April 1.
She said: "He used the hose to give himself an enema. He used it regularly."
The following day he went to work at QDF Components in Victory Road but failed to pick up Miss Whatley as arranged that evening.
The inquest was told that Mr Ross had asked to go home at 10am suffering from extreme pain in his stomach.
iss Whatley said: "My daughter rang him. She said he sounded out of breath. He said he would pick me up the next day."
The following evening, after trying to get in touch with Mr Ross all day, she was told he had been admitted to Derbyshire Royal Infirmary suffering from severe stomach pains.
Surgeons repaired the tear in his bowel but the peritonitis - inflammation of internal membranes - had caused septicaemia, or blood poisoning, and he died in intensive care on Friday, April 5.
Dr Semeraro said that, if Mr Ross had sought medical attention sooner, the septicaemia might not have developed.
Clive Shirtcliffe, of Osmaston Park Road, was friends with Mr Ross for 35 years.
He said: "I wasn't aware of any unusual behaviour, it's a shock really.
"I never noticed any attachment on the shower."
Derby and South Derbyshire Coroner Peter Ashworth, returning a verdict of misadventure, said: "For whatever reason Mr Ross might have used that piece of equipment, he caused himself an injury.
"He did not seek medical attention soon enough. There is danger in trying to fend off pain."
Submitted on 05/20/2002
Submitted by:
Toe Mouse
Reference:
www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk
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