‘Fear of medical profession’ contributes to man’s death

Wednesday 01 August 2018

An inquest in Jersey has been told how "a pathological fear of hospitals and the medical profession" since childhood played a role in the death of a 39-year-old man earlier this year.

The inquest was also told Kristian Robinson - who as a youngster was very fit and had wanted to join the army as a PT instructor - had problems with alcohol, and developed a series of medical ailments which probably also contributed to his death.

The inquest heard that when Mr Robinson was a child his mother was very ill, and spent a lot of time in hospitals. Ever since then he’d apparently had a phobia of doctors. Nevertheless, in April, after being sent home from work with a chest infection, he did go and see his GP and was given a seven-day course of antibiotics. He was also told if his condition deteriorated he should immediately seek help, or get to the hospital.

After the doctor’s appointment Mr Robinson went to stay with his mother so she could look after him, but when his condition worsened he pleaded with her not to call an ambulance saying he’d be better "when the antibiotics finally kicked in."

She respected his wishes until very early on the morning of 17 April when he developed serious breathing problems. He later had a cardiac arrest. The ambulance crew injected him with adrenaline on a number of occasions to try and bring him round, but he later died at the hospital.

Although an autopsy revealed there was no alcohol in Mr Robinson’s body, it did show how years of drinking had led to a number of medical conditions which probably also contributed to his death. He was over-weight, and his heart and lungs were enlarged, and his liver showed signs of cirrhosis.

Summing up, the relief coroner, Dr Martin Barrette, told the inquest a number of factors had probably contributed to Mr Robinson's death. These included the chest infection, clinical asthma, morbid obesity, liver cirrhosis, and heart complications.