VET DIED AFTER TAKING DRUG USED TO KILL ANIMALS

TO relieve her back pain, a vet took a drug used to put animals to sleep
and died, an inquest was told.

A verdict of accidental death was recorded on Laura Griffiths, 32, found
dead by her husband, Andrew, in her front room.

Mrs Griffiths, of Bedminster, Bristol, died on Nov 18 after taking a drug
called pentobarbitone, which was not licensed for human use.

Human use of pentobarbitone, a barbiturate, has been banned in Britain
although it is still used on animals and is prescribed to people in some
other countries, including South Africa.

The inquest in Bristol was told Mrs Griffiths regularly used the painkiller
as relief from back trouble, as well as practising acupuncture. She had
been out with friends on the night she died.

Mrs Griffiths, who had a history of back pain, was described as an able vet
who specialised in the care of small animals at her practice in Stoke
Bishop, Bristol.