CANNABIS CAN TRIGGER FATAL HEART CONDITIONS

Cannabis Use Can Trigger Undetected Fatal Heart Conditions, An
Inquest Into The Death Of A Fit Young Father From Sudden Adult Death
Syndrome (SADS) Was Told Yesterday.

Cork Coroner's Court heard details of the tragic death of David
Kelly, aged 21, from St Theresa's Road in the city, in March 2006.

The inquest was told that Mr Kelly, who was very health-conscious,
collapsed and died in front of his girlfriend, Stephanie.

He was an occasional user of cannabis and a post mortem found tiny
traces of the drug in his system.

He was rushed to the Mercy University Hospital (MUH) but he died
despite frantic efforts by doctors to save him.

Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster said David died
because the rhythmic electrical pulse in his heart misfired, causing
it to stop beating almost immediately. She pointed to a growing body
of medical evidence which shows links between the triggering of
similar heart conditions and the use of drugs like cannabis and cocaine.

"On the basis of the evidence, it may have been that death by SADS
may have been triggered by cannabis use," she said.

"Cannabis can only prove to be the trigger in certain cases. It is
not the cause of death."

However, the inquest was told that, in almost a quarter of such
cases, the individual had an underlying genetic cardiac problem.

David is survived by his parents, three brothers and his baby son --
some of whom became very distressed during yesterday's inquest.

Dr Bolster recommended that they all be screened for the congenital
heart condition following his tragic death.

Addressing the family directly, Dr Bolster said David would have died
almost instantly and would not have suffered.

The nature of his heart condition meant he could have died at any
time and that even if he collapsed in front of doctors, they may not
have been able to save him, she said.

City Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane recorded an open verdict because,
despite evidence that cannabis may have triggered David's fatal heart
condition, she said there was not enough evidence to support a
verdict of death by misadventure.