Tragic teen accidentally killed herself by overdosing on paracetamol after suffering painful stomach ache

 

The family of teenage girl who accidentally killed herself with an overdose of paracetamol tablets to cure a stomach ache has called for tougher restrictions on the drug.
Georgia Littlewood, 17, is thought to have taken more than the recommended dose of the medication after calling in sick to the hairdressers where she worked part-time as office clerk.
Unaware of the dose's deadly consequences, Georgia went to stay with her boyfriend.
But her condition suddenly deteriorated and she was rushed into hospital with severe liver damage.
She died the following day.

The cause of death was acute liver failure due to paracetamol toxicity.
Speaking at an inquest into her death, Georgia's family condemned the ease with you can buy paracetamol after a coroner said it was a "readily available medication across the counter which can be extremely dangerous."

 

Tragic: Georgia Littlewood accidentally killed herself with an overdose of paracetamol tablets after complaining she was ill with stomach ache

In a statement they said: "You can buy paracetamol at 19p a packet in supermarkets - yet you should only be able to buy it from a pharmacist who tells you of the dangers. You should not be able to go into the shop with no one giving any advice."
Earlier the hearing was told how Georgia had taken an administration apprenticeship in September 2014.
But she had been complaining of headaches after long hours sat in front of a computer at her desk.
Her mother Joanne Littlewood told the Huddersfield hearing: "Georgia really seemed to enjoy her job. She was always using a computer and had to use glasses after tests were done, only if she was using the computer. She did wear them at first but she was not happy with how they looked so she didn't wear them.
"She complained of having headaches on and off. There was no real pattern to them. She did not have any other health issues and did not suffer from a traumatic injury."
Tragedy struck on March 28 this year when Georgia woke up at 6.30am complaining of a stomach ache called in sick and went back to bed.
But later Mrs Littlewood received a text from her daughter saying she was going stay over with her boyfriend Tom Keen.

 

Pain: Georgia had called in sick from her job as an office clerk at a hairdresser

The couple watched television and went out to get a milk shake and pizza.
But at 2am the next morning, Georgia was heard being sick in the bathroom.
Mr Keen took her back to her parent's house where they rang an ambulance when she failed to recognise her mother.
At Huddersfield Royal Infirmary she told doctors she had taken paracetamol tablets but had not done so with any intention of causing herself harm.
She was transferred to St James' Hospital in Leeds and was put down for a liver transplant but she sadly deteriorated, leaving doctors unable to reverse the damage done to her liver.
She died at 9pm on March 30 in the intensive care unit. Mrs Littlewood said: "On the day she was taken into hospital she was mumbling and didn't know who I was. I knew something was wrong straight away.
"I believe the overdose was a complete accident. She was a very happy girl making plans to go on holiday in July.

Cavendish

Incoherent: Georgia was mumbling and vomiting just before her death and did not recognise her mum

"I don't think she would have known the correct doses for taking paracetamol and would have taken them for a headache. She would not have known the affect it would have had on her."
Mr Keen said: "She was not making any sense, she was talking but not making sense. At first I thought she was having me on. I realised something wasn't right. I woke my house mate up and we took her home. When we got to her house we got to the door and her dad opened. He asked if she had taken anything. I confirmed she had not. She hadn't drunk any alcohol either. I went back home.
"Her mum rang later and said the ambulance had been called and she had been taken to hospital. I did not see her take any paracetamol nor any other medication and she did not say she had done so. No medication had gone missing."

Cavendish

Warning: Her parents urged better regulation on Paracetamol saying Georgia would not have known of the recommended dose

Assistant coroner Mary Burke recorded a conclusion of accidental death and said: "It seems likely to me that Georgia was not fully away of the apparent toxic effect of paracetamol which can develop over a relatively short period of time.
"I do not believe it was an intentional act on Georgia's part to harm herself and conclude a result of 'accident.'
"It is important to use these circumstances to highlight to members of the public the risk that are present. I hope you will agree to me highlighting it in order to avoid any one else having to go through the distress and upset you as a family have had to cope with in the circumstances.
"Paracetamol is a readily available medication across the counter but can be extremely dangerous. There are doses as identified in place for a reason. If everyone does not comply with that there can be tragic circumstances evident in this case. If you take more than the recommended dose the body cannot cope with that."