Balram Patel’s father says his son’s death was a case of “forced assisted dying” due to medical negligence

Patients Lives Matter, a patient advocacy group, has announced the dates for the coroner’s inquest into the death of Balram Patel. The inquest will take place on 2-3 June 2025, at Southwark Coroner’s Court, London. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 24 March at the same location.

Balram Patel: ‘forced assisted dying’

Jay Patel, founder of Patients Lives Matter and father of Balram Patel, alleges that his son’s death was a case of “forced assisted dying” due to medical negligence.

This announcement comes in the wake of a recent £1.67m fine imposed on an NHS Trust in a criminal prosecution, following a three-year battle by parents whose newborn died due to NHS errors.

“What happened to my son Balram was not just negligence, it was forced assisted dying,” said Jay Patel:

The hospital decided it was time for him to go, despite our desperate pleas for proper treatment.

Balram Patel, who was developmentally delayed, passed away on 9 August 2023 at the age of 30. He had been suffering from six life-threatening conditions, including acute pulmonary edema. Mr. Patel claims that the hospital’s refusal to administer intravenous (IV) diuretics in a timely manner directly led to his son’s death.

According to the consultant’s witness statement, IV diuretics were more effective at treating the life-threatening acute pulmonary edema that Balram developed. The consultant acknowledged that Balram would have lived longer with IV diuretic treatment for the pulmonary edema.

“I begged the hospital to start the IV infusion diuretics, telling them ‘My son is dying,’ which they acknowledged,” Mr. Patel recounted. “But the consultant refused, insisting on continuing with oral diuretics.”

The IV pump infusion was finally started 40 hours after Mr. Patel’s initial plea. Tragically, Balram died just three hours later from acute pulmonary edema.

Forced assisted dying?

“This is a clear case of assisted dying forced upon Balram by the hospital,” Mr. Patel asserted. “They decided it was time for him to go, even though he couldn’t make that critical choice on his own due to his developmental delays.”

The upcoming inquest will examine the circumstances surrounding Balram Patel’s death, including the decision-making process of the medical staff and the timeline of treatments administered. Patients Lives Matter hopes that this inquest will shed light on the systemic issues within the NHS healthcare system that can lead to such tragic outcomes.

“We are fighting not just for Balram, but for all patients who are vulnerable and unable to advocate for themselves,” Mr. Patel stated:

No family should have to endure what we’ve been through.

Patients Lives Matter is calling for increased accountability in the healthcare system, including the right to second opinions and an independent review board for NHS complaints. The organization aims to prevent similar tragedies and ensure that patient rights are protected.

“The question that must be answered is why was assisted death forced upon my son Balram?” Mr. Patel emphasised:

We hope this inquest will provide answers and lead to meaningful changes in how hospitals treat their most vulnerable patients.

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