A PENSIONER being treated in hospital for blood clots died of a rare complication.

But not to give her the anti-coagulant drugs which ultimately led to her death would have been negligent, an inquest heard.

Home Office pathologist Dr William Lawler told the inquest in Blackburn, Mrs Barbara Hunneybell, 66, was given a six-month course of anti-coagulants.

Treatment was resumed when she again complained of chest pains and was readmitted to hospital.

Six days after the start of the second course of treatment her condition deteriorated and she died a week later.

Dr Lawler said a post-mortem examination showed Mrs Hunneybell, of Hippings Vale, Oswaldtwistle, suffered a delayed rupture of the spleen which caused extensive bleeding into the abdomen which killed her.

He said: "This is one of those unfortunate instances where to fail to give anti-coagulants would have been negligent because she needed the treatment.

"Unfortunately I believe she died of an extremely unusual complication of that treatment."

Dr Lawler said the treatment the former production worker had received was standard practice and absolutely necessary and had been given under the right circumstances at the right time.

But he added: "Unfortunately there are side effects and we have here a very rare complication."

Assistant coroner John Birch recorded a verdict of death by misadventure.

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