Gran dies after 'sudden and severe pain' when increasing dose of Mounjaro

Gran dies after 'sudden and severe pain' when increasing dose of Mounjaro Caroline Savage, 73, died after suffering "sudden and severe pain" caused by a tear in her intestines - and an inquest is examining whether her death is linked to increasing the dose of her Mounjaro A grandma died from a painful illness after increasing the dose of her Mounjaro jab, an inquest has heard. Caroline Savage, 73, suffered "sudden and severe pain" after being advised to up the amount she was taking on a private prescription. The hearing this week was told Mrs Savage died from faecal peritonitis - a leaking of faecal matter into the abdominal cavity - caused by perforation of part of her intestines. But Norfolk's Coroner Court was also told her family were concerned doctors who treated her in hospital may have been too quick to put her symptoms down to the drug. The inquest was now examining whether the grandmother's death was linked to the weight loss drug, which is known to have gastrointestinal side effects. Her family, represented by barrister Jasmine Leng, argued that they should have prompted further investigation, rather than being dismissed as side effects. Mrs Savage, from Wortwell, Norfolk, had been taking Mounjaro to lose weight and symptoms of lipoedema, a painful build-up of fatty tissue. The mum had previously been unsuccessful in losing weight through diet and exercise, and had weighed 128kg (20st) in July 2024. Her private prescribing doctor, Dr Harvinder Chahal, said Mrs Savage was warned that possible side effects of weight loss jabs included abdominal pain and constipation. When she was reviewed in October, her weight had fallen to (18st) and reported feeling well, with no significant side effects from the medicine. She was advised to complete the two remaining 7.5mg doses in her existing pen, before increasing to 10mg. But Mrs Savage began suffering abdominal pain on the morning of October 18, 2024, and an ambulance was called at 1.30pm. She was taken to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital's emergency department at about 2.45pm, but stayed in an ambulance because the emergency department was too busy. The 73-year-old woman was assessed by a senior clinical fellow in emergency medicine who said his initial concern was pancreatitis, a known but rare complication from weight-loss medication. However, Mrs Savage's blood results did not indicate pancreatitis, and he concluded she did not require admission or a CT following an examination. Advanced clinical practitioner Laura Rea said Mounjaro's recognised side effects, including abdominal pain and bloating, formed a reasonable working diagnosis without any evidence showing a surgical emergency. Dr Olmo-Ferrer, a consultant in emergency medicine, also reviewed Mrs Savage and carried out a focused ultrasound to rule out an abdominal aortic aneurysm (a swelling of the the main blood vessel in the belly). He said she appeared comfortable enough to be discharged with pain relief and advice, and that she did not need a CT scan or referral. She was discharged from hospital at about 6.30pm, but collapsed at home just after midnight. Her husband Jeremy, a former Tory councillor, heard a thud and found his wife unresponsive on the floor on on October 19, 2024. He called an ambulance and attempted CPR, but she could not be saved. A post-mortem examination found Mrs Savage had died from faecal peritonitis. There is no established evidence that this can be caused by Mounjaro - but possible links were discussed at the hearing. The drug slows the speed food moves from the stomach to the intestine, and constipation is a known side-effect. The hearing was told that if someone already unknowingly had diverticular disease - a condition that affects the intestine - the side effects from Mounjaro could raise pressure in the intestines, increasing the risk of inflammation and perforation. But a report said no exact figure could be put on this risk. During the inquest, held before area coroner Yvonne Blake, Mrs Savage's use of Mounjaro was discussed, and whether enough investigations were carried out by hospital staff before she was sent home. Her family argued she had been discharged without a proper diagnosis, and questioned why no surgical review, CT scan or further investigation was undertaken before she was allowed home. The hospital carried out a review of Mrs Savage's care after her death. Consultant Dr Hussain Hommad told the inquest that her presentation, blood tests, observations and ultrasound findings were all normal at the time she was assessed. He said the outcome she suffered was extremely difficult to predict, and clinicians had acted appropriately based on the information available. The family's barrister submitted that Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights - the right to life - should be considered over what they described systemic failures in communication, documentation and clinical decision-making at the hospital. She argued clinicians repeatedly assessed Mrs Savage's pain shortly after morphine had been administered, and may not have taken this into account when deciding whether further investigations were needed. Solicitor Alison Brockhurst, representing the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, argued Mrs Savage's death was from natural causes and the high threshold for engaging Article 2 had not been met. She accepted record-keeping "wasn't as good as it could have been" but said evidence showed detailed discussions had taken place between clinicians in person, and that appropriate processes had been followed. Coroner Ms Blake said she required further time to consider the legal submissions before deciding whether Article 2 should apply. She adjourned that decision and said she would later return to deliver her narrative conclusion.