Answers remain a mystery to family; INQUEST: Family vow to take legal action after natural causes verdict.

Byline: By Chris Henwood

THE grieving family of a Midland man who suffered a punctured lung during surgery and later died today pledged to take legal action.

A 'rare' complication of surgery played a part in the death of a Black Country father, an inquest has heard.

Alan Shakespeare, of Lloyd Street, Wednesbury, was admitted to Walsall Manor Hospital on November 9 last year suffering a chest infection.

During his stay the 59-year-old contracted MRSA, but was discharged on January 14 after a lengthy dose of antibiotics.

The MRSA cleared, but he remained unwell and was re-admitted to the hospital on January 28, where doctors discovered oral antibiotics had become ineffective.

He died a month later of bronchial pneumonia having suffered a punctured lung during surgery to insert an intravenous tube for the longterm administration of antibiotics.

The puncture caused a pneumothorax or collapsed lung, which then filled with fluid.

A chest drain was inserted to reinflate his lung and Mr Shakespeare was transferred to the high dependency unit.

Some days later the chest drain ceased to work and Mr Shakespeare's condition began to deteriorate.

Black Country coroner Robin Balmain, sitting in Walsall, ruled Mr Shakespeare died of natural causes, however, the family has promised to take legal action.

Mr Balmain said: "I'm perfectly satisfied Mr Shakespeare had excellent care at the hospital - clearly he was very ill.

"My verdict is that he died of natural causes, contributed to by a known, if rare, complication of this elective surgical procedure."

Victoria Blankstone, the Shakespeare family solicitor from Birmingham law firm Irwin Mitchell, said: "The Shakespeare family has been devastated by Alan's death and are disappointed by the Coroner's verdict today.

"While the inquest established some of the circumstances surrounding Alan's tragic death, many questions remain unanswered and, notwithstanding today's verdict, the family intend to pursue legal action.

"We believe there were significant failings - in particular the decisions to send Alan home while he still had both a chest infection and MRSA and then, when he was readmitted, to insert a Hickman line that inadvertently penetrated his right lung resulting in a pneumothorax or collapsed lung, which then filled with fluid, the failure of the chest drains to remove the fluid and the delays in seeking specialist advice from a thoracic surgeon."

CAPTION(S):

Alan Shakespeare, who died after suffering a punctured lung during an operation.