Lawyer died after NHS device produced ‘four days’ worth of insulin in under an hour’
An investigation has been launched into claims that a leading lawyer died due to fatal doses of insulin being administered by a faulty NHS-issued pump.
Paul McNairney, 39, died last month after a device, known as an Omnipod, delivered four days’ worth of insulin in an hour as he slept, according to data obtained by his husband’s lawyers.
The Glasgow-based Advocate, who was admitted to the bar in 2013, had married his partner Scott Craig only five months previously.
Mr Craig, 42, called for the Omnipod devices to be withdrawn from use. The devices are widely used in the UK and deliver insulin automatically through a wearable device rather than injections.
However, the manufacturer of the devices, the US company Insulet, insisted that the pods are safe and said it had not seen evidence that the device was to blame.
Mr McNairney, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes aged two, died on Nov 10, three days after Mr Craig discovered him in bed unconscious.
His family agreed to turn off his life support machine after learning he had suffered catastrophic and irreparable brain damage.
Analysis of his device by the lawyers Digby Brown suggested he received a dose of 16.9 units of insulin at 8:40am - enough to put him into a coma - with the pod then administering three more doses of 17.05 units each in the next 48 minutes.
In total he is said to have received 75 units - the equivalent of four days' worth of insulin - despite a working Omnipod being designed so it cannot deliver more than 30 units in one hour.
'My husband lay dying in silence'
"I can't shake from my mind the fact that I was sitting in the next room relaxing with the dog while my husband lay dying in silence," Mr Craig said.
"I need to know how this happened. Paul's family and friends need to know. Other pod users need to know. We all deserve to know how things went wrong here.
"Health boards need to stop using Omnipods right now until their integrity, and the safety of users, can be guaranteed."
Mr McNairney completed the training required by Insulet on Jul 12 and started wearing the pod supplied by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
Police Scotland seized Mr McNairney's Omnipod, which Scotland's prosecution service forwarded to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency for investigation (MHRA).
A spokeswoman for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service said: "The investigation into the death is ongoing and the family will continue to be kept updated in relation to any significant developments."
'Consumer safety is Insulet's number one priority'
A spokeswoman for Insulet said the company offered its "deepest condolences" to Mr McNairney’s loved ones.
She added: "Consumer safety is Insulet’s number one priority. Our products are highly regulated, and we have comprehensive controls and procedures in place to ensure the safety of our products.
"Insulet has been made aware of this unfortunate incident and is working with the MHRA in the UK to obtain the device for further investigation.
"At this point, we do not have evidence of a device malfunction or performance issue. Further analysis will be conducted upon receiving the device.
"Insulet has been safely and effectively designing, manufacturing, and distributing the Omnipod Insulin Management System for more than 15 years and it is safe to use as intended with a prescription."
