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Suicide of terminally ill man refused drugs
A terminally ill man took his life after being refused medication from the Primary Care Trust.
Albert John Baxter was found by his partner in his kitchen with a bin liner over his head on June 6, 2007.
An inquest in to the 75-year-old's death at Eastbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday (April 22) found he had committed suicide and died from suffocation.
The pensioner, of Bylands Close, Hampden Park, was diagnosed with terminal renal cancer in 2006.
Mr Baxter lived with his partner, Barrie Curryer, whom he had known for more than 30 years.
Mr Curryer said his friend was 'happy-go-lucky' and 'very clever' but explained he had become depressed after being refused a new cancer drug, called Sunitinib, by the Primary Care Trust.
"I had prepared myself for his death but not under these circumstances," said Mr Curryer.
Dr Rob Wicks, Mr Baxter's GP, said he was keen for his patient to have the medication as it was one of the last options available.
Dr Wicks said, "It would have held the progression of the disease and alleviated symptoms — improving his quality of life.
"This at the time was not pleasant as he was having a vast amount of fluid drained from his stomach and I believe he was in pain."
Sunitinib is new and has not yet been approved by National Institute for Clinical Excellence.
The inquest heard Dr Fiona Mckinna, consultant in clinical oncology at Eastbourne DGH, had made the application for the drug in March 2006 and had then lodged an appeal against the PCT's decision to withhold the drug in May following Mr Baxter's deterioration.
Lisa Compton, director of patient and public engagement at East Sussex Downs and Weald PCT, told the coroner each case was assessed individually and explained clinical effectiveness and cost were the two main factors.
The coroner was told Mr Baxter had been to the hospital the day before he took his life and wass told he would not be receiving the drugs.
Mr Craze recorded a verdict of suicide.
He said the PCT had an 'almost impossible job' when deciding on medication and added there had to be a limit on resources.
Mr Craze said, "I don't think his life would have come to an end precisely when it did had he been prescribed the requested drug."
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