A Birmingham pensioner died after suffering an allergic reaction to an antibiotic at Good Hope Hospital, an inquest has determined. June Cartwright, an 88-year-old resident of Erdington, was admitted to the hospital in Sutton Coldfield on December 10 last year with influenza A.
Mrs Cartwright had a documented 'previous intolerance' to penicillin but was administered amoxicillin, a type of penicillin, in the early hours of the morning. Shortly after receiving the intravenous antibiotic, she was found collapsed in a chair, experiencing an allergic reaction. Despite resuscitation efforts, she died the following day, December 11, from an acute anaphylactic reaction to amoxicillin, according to Birmingham Coroner's Court.
Coroner's Findings
Senior Coroner Louise Hunt concluded that it was reasonable to administer amoxicillin given that Mrs Cartwright had only previously shown an intolerance to the drug, not a full allergic reaction. The cause of death was recorded as hypoxic brain injury due to a cardiac arrest resulting from anaphylaxis to amoxicillin.
In her inquest record, the coroner detailed Mrs Cartwright's extensive medical history, which included congestive cardiac failure, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, depression, hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, a permanent pacemaker, atrial fibrillation, and osteoarthritis. She was admitted to Good Hope Hospital on December 10, 2025, and diagnosed with influenza A. After a cannula was inserted, she received intravenous amoxicillin at 1:32 am.
Shortly thereafter, she was found collapsed in a chair, and resuscitation was initiated. She was noted to be wheezy and to have developed a rash. Although she was resuscitated, she remained critically unwell and was transitioned to comfort care, passing away at 7:54 pm on December 11, 2025.
The coroner stated, "It is likely she died from a severe allergic reaction to amoxicillin; however, it was reasonable for this to be given as she had only previously shown an intolerance to the drug, not an allergic reaction." Influenza A, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction were also listed on the death certificate.
BirminghamLive has contacted University Hospitals Birmingham for comment regarding this incident.
