A narrative verdict has just been submitted at an inquest into the death of a 14-year old boy last October.
A seemingly innocent dose of an acne tablet resulted in the death of 14-year old Shaun Jones in Pontypridd, within 12 hours of being consumed. Six foot (1.83m) tall Shaun had used a lotion for spots on his back earlier until he heard that his friend had been prescribed medicine for acne. Shaun had consulted his doctor regarding the spots and had been prescribed acne tablets. When he went to the chemist he was told the tablets were out of stock and was given a substitute (Sebomin) instead.
Later that night Shaun took the tablet before going to bed. An hour later he complained of a constriction in his chest and shortness of breath. His mother had contacted an out of hours GP service but was told no one was available. When he got worse he was moved to the Royal Glamorgan Hospital in an ambulance early next morning. He received treatment but had to be transferred again to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff where he died. All these events took place within a 12 hour period.
At the inquest, Shaun’s mother Clare Jones revealed that the chemist had recommended the medication supposedly after consulting Shaun’s doctor on the phone and said that he could be given tablets that were exactly the same as the one originally prescribed.
Clare Jones testified that there was no safety leaflet in the box with the medication providing contraindications.  Doctors at the University Hospital of Wales believe that Shaun’s death was caused by an “idiosyncratic reaction” to the acne medication.  Dr. Stephen Jolles, consultant immunologist told the inquest that it takes just tiny amounts of a substance to cause a reaction if one is allergic to it. It would be wiser not to take any medication without reading accompanying literature. More information can be found from the source of the article.