A blogger died due to neglect, an inquest has concluded, after she was able to purchase and ingest poison sent to her from a Russian seller. Beth Matthews, 26, collapsed and died in front of staff at the Priory Hospital Cheadle Royal on March 21, 2022. An inquest has found the prominent mental health advocate was able to purchase a deadly poison while being detained under the Mental Health act.
The inquest found that neglect by hospital staff contributed to her death by suicide.
The Manchester Evening News reported she had told ward personnel the substance she received in the mail was a protein powder.
She went into cardiac arrest and was taken to hospital, but emergency staff could not save her.
Reports have not named the substance she ingested, but David Watts, the Priory’s director of risk management, told the court earlier this week that hospital staff were aware of the risks it posed.
In a statement issued on January 18, the group said her plan was “not followed” as demanded the day she died.
Representatives accepted that, “on the balance of probabilities”, the measure relating to post could have avoided her death.
They concluded “she would not have ingested the substance, and would not have died as she did”.
The inquest also heard that Ms Matthews was in an especially vulnerable position due to intersecting stressors deemed to have a “negative” impact on her mental health.
Search records obtained from her mobile phone showed she had frequently made searches relating to the substance that killed her.
These searches intensified in the two weeks leading to her death.
Beth’s mother Jane Matthews described her daughter as a “caring”, “intelligent” and “articulate” woman
The court heard she was diagnosed with Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (EUPD) in 2018, which led to recurring suicidal thoughts.
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