Man on dialysis died after taking cocaine, inquest toldSat, Jun 06, 2009
A YOUNG man who was on a waiting list for a kidney transplant died after taking cocaine, an inquest has heard.
Rudie Sloan (21) of Howth Road, Raheny, Dublin 5 was discovered dead in bed by his mother Monica on February 3rd, 2008.
A toxicology screen found that Mr Sloan, who was on dialysis three times a week, had cocaine and a breakdown product of cocaine, benzolegonine in his system.
Lignocaine, a heart drug, with which cocaine is frequently cut and which increases the cardio toxic effects of cocaine, was also present. Mr Sloan, who had suffered kidney failure at a young age and who had an unsuccessful renal transplant in 2003, had an enlarged heart most likely due to high blood pressure as a result of his condition, a postmortem found.
His heart condition would likely have made him more vulnerable to the effects of cocaine, an inquest into his death at Dublin City Coroner’s Court heard yesterday.
The 21-year-old man had been out with friends on the night of February 2nd, and had called to visit his sister at 12.30am the next day, who said he was in good form, but looked a little pale. She drove him home at 2am and he spoke to his other sister around 3am. He was found by his mother 12-hours later.
Monica Sloan told the inquest she never expected to hear about cocaine. “To me Rudie died because he was ill,” she said.
Coroner Dr Brian Farrell recorded a narrative verdict in accordance with the medical evidence, recording that Mr Sloan’s death was due to an acute cardiac event due to an enlarged heart most likely due to high blood pressure, with cocaine and lignocaine toxicity.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0606/1224248169765.html
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