Paracetamol is widely considered to be a form of safe pain relief. After all, it’s widely available in every supermarket and pharmacy all around the country.
Yet a Melbourne Coroner this month found 47 year old Paul McHugh’s death could have been prevented following an ultimately fatal maximum daily dose of Paracetamol given by his regular pharmacy for months on end.
This inquest is the last in a line of numerous other cases—including inquests—to have highlighted the serious risks of overuse of Paracetamol. It can lead to acute liver failure, irreversible liver damage and, ultimately, death.
Most in the community are unaware that even slightly exceeding the recommended daily dosage can be harmful, particularly when combined with other medications that also contain Paracetamol (such as popular ‘cold and flu’ medication).
The death of Paul McHugh: a preventable case of medication mismanagement
McHugh died of acute liver failure in December 2022. He had ongoing symptoms consistent with Paracetamol toxicity—difficulty breathing, fatigue, and extreme pain—but these were ignored by his regular pharmacy.
He had been given the maximum dosage of four grams of Paracetamol each day for 16 weeks—well beyond recommended short-term use—without reaching out to McHugh’s treating doctors. It’s a case that highlights the risks of “medication mismanagement”—most commonly pharmacists making assumptions about patient’s treatment plans in the absence of prescribing information.
The death of Catherine Henry Lawyers client 13 year old Wade Dunn – another case of a preventable death
13-year-old Wade Dunn from Orange, NSW died tragically from liver failure. He had been given Paracetamol for pain following a routine hip operation over a 14 day period.
Again the death was the subject of an inquest—and also a negligence claim.
The coroner found that Wade’s death could have been prevented with better medication oversight and stronger regulatory measures.
Lessons for the future
The coroners in both cases expressed deep concern about the lack of oversight in dispensing medication.
In McHugh’s case, pharmacists failed to verify the prolonged use of high-dose Paracetamol with medical professionals.
In our client’s case, excess weight put him at higher risk of liver failure as a result of prolonged Paracetamol administration but a gastroenterologist expert said that no attempt had been made by hospital staff to assess his liver function.
To prevent similar tragedies, the following reforms have been recommended
- Stronger healthcare accountability: Pharmacists should consult with doctors in cases of prolonged use.
- Improved communication protocols: Clearer documentation and information-sharing between pharmacies and medical practitioners.
- Better patient education: Patients need clearer information on the safe use of paracetamol and how to recognise early signs of paracetamol toxicity.
- Stricter Paracetamol regulation: Aligning with coronial recommendations to restrict sales and enhance warning labels.
How can we help?
Our work and advocacy plays a role in preventing future tragedies such as the deaths of Paul McHugh and young Wade Dunn.
Medication mismanagement—and also dispensing errors—account for many cases of negligence leading to serious injury and death.
Our team of highly experienced health lawyers and allied health professionals can assist with negligence claims and inquests arising from medication errors.
Contact us
Reach out to us to talk through your options and access information on a negligence claim or to discuss what is involved in the holding of an inquest.
Our caring and highly experienced team will speak with you in depth and confidentially.
Call us on 1800 874 949 or fill in the form below.
