Lisa’s death: wait for answers is over

AN EPILEPTIC died from heart failure rather than a fit, an inquest heard.

It ends a three-year wait for answers over the death of Lisa Khan (31) in 2007, after an initial inquest was adjourned in June, 2008.

It was adjourned when questions were raised over the medication Lisa took after toxicological reports could not find any drugs in her system.

A second test has now found she had been taking epilepsy drugs at therapeutic levels.

Husband Mohammed Khan (35) told the inquest at Oldham Magistrates Court yesterday that he had found Lisa collapsed at their home in Block Lane, Werneth. The couple had enjoyed an evening in and Lisa had been her normal, happy self before going to bed while he slept downstairs.

The following morning he found her lying on the bedroom floor. Attempts to resuscitate her were unsuccessful.

Mrs Khan had been an epileptic from birth but Mr Khan said she had the condition under control through medication and was suffering only one or two violent fits a year.

But the factory worker had taken additional medication in the weeks before her death to treat fertility problems, which he said left her out of breath, tired and prone to nodding off.

He had told her not to take the metaformin pills and believes the medication contributed to her death. Lisa also took medication for an overactive thyroid and a skin problem.

Pathologist Dr Alan Padwell said the cause of death was heart failure caused by obesity and thyroid problems, as indicated by an enlarged heart, lungs and liver.

He added that there was always the possibility an epileptic could have suffered a fatal fit but the fact that Lisa was taking epilepsy medication made this less likely. Both Dr Padwell and toxicologist Dr Gwendolen Ayers said there was no suggestion Metaformin had caused the problems Lisa died from.

Recording a verdict of natural causes, deputy coroner Matthew Cox said there was no evidence the medication was a contributory factor in her death.

Mr Khan, a bus driver, paid tribute to Lisa saying epilepsy did not stop the former Radclyffe School pupil from doing anything. The couple met aged 15 and married in 1982 and he described her as a kind, loving and caring person and he misses her dearly.