The Evening Standard newspaper has reported that the inquest into the death of Maurice Murphy, the former Black Dyke principal cornet player and London Symphony Orchestra trumpeter, has been informed that a feeding tube being mistakenly fed into his lung, rather than his stomach, caused his death.

Incorrect positioning

Seriously ill, Murphy had been admitted to London’s Royal Free Hospital with a liver complaint.

The court heard that junior doctor Jonas Woo overruled a nurse who told him the tube was incorrectly positioned, and later ignored a radiology report that signalled the same problem. Maurice Murphy died 24 hours later on 28th October.

The coroner concluded that he died due to an 'accidental adverse healthcare event combined with and contributed to by natural causes'4BR

Conclusion

The coroner concluded that he died due to an 'accidental adverse healthcare event combined with and contributed to by natural causes.'

Maurice Murphy’s widow, Shirley is reported to have said that ‘the system had broken down’, but that her husband had received good NHS care.

Further training

The junior doctor concerned is to receive further training, whilst the hospital plans to review its policies to ensure better communication between departments.