Jessica Reid with her fiancé Alex Bradley after their engagement in December 2018. Photo / Supplied
Jessica Reid with her fiancé Alex Bradley after their engagement in December 2018. Photo / Supplied
A mother says the inquiry into the death of her Hastings daughter "feels unfinished" after a coroner found that a change in epilepsy medicine was not to blame for her death.
The death of Jessica Reid, 23, who died on September 20, 2019, after the brand of her medication waschanged, sparked a joint inquiry into whether switching to Logem, a generic form of the anticonvulsant medicine lamotrigine, contributed to the deaths of six Kiwis with epilepsy.
In 2019, Pharmac made Logem the only funded brand of lamotrigine. As a result, 10,700 Kiwis had their medication switched.
The inquiry found that Jessica received different brands of antiepileptic medication depending on what pharmacy she visited in Hawke's Bay.
In her findings, chief coroner Deborah Marshall said "the evidence does not clearly link the brand switch to the seizures that led to the deaths".
Jessica Reid died on September 20, 2019, after the brand of her epilepsy medication was changed. Photo / NZME
Jessica's mother Karen Reid said the inquiry into her daughter's death "feels unfinished" and questioned why probes into only six deaths were included.
"To me that's not coincidence. Something was very wrong but it can't be proven," she said.
"The inquiry looked for proof and I would like to thank the chief coroner for her diligence in that.
"But, I still believe that for so many to die suddenly at that time is suspicious and as such it feels unfinished."
The coroner's report states that between 2013 and 2014, Jessica, who worked as an animal groomer at a pet store, suffered almost 10 seizures.
In September 2014, a Hamilton neurologist suggested a combination of lamotrigine and a small dose of Epilim, which Jessica's fiancé Alex said worked "wonderfully" and left Jessica seizure-free for over a year.
Alex told the inquiry, on most occasions when Reid's antiepileptic medications were changed, they were well informed. But in 2019, they didn't get any warning about the brand switch.
About 70 per cent of people with epilepsy, which affects 1-2 per cent of the population, are able to control it well with medication and Karen told Hawke's Bay Today she still felt Jessica's death could've been prevented.
"Had the two pharmacies of the same name located 20 minutes apart had a linked database, they would not have been dispensing Logem at one and Lamictal at the other."
"For my Jess, I lament the failure of care.
"My heart didn't just break that day, my soul shattered and I will spend the rest of my life holding it together."
Jessica Reid, who died on September 20, 2019, with her sister Hannah. Photo / Supplied
According to the inquiry, an autopsy by forensic pathology registrar Dr Triggs found lamotrigine was confirmed at a level consistent with normal use and declared the cause of death as "Sudden Unexplained Death in Epilepsy".
Dr Triggs also said no injuries or natural diseases could have contributed to or caused her death.
Jessica also stopped taking Epilim, another antiepileptic medication, about 12 months before her death.
Neurologist Dr Elizabeth Walker told the inquest the likely cause of Jessica's fatal seizure was withdrawal from Epilim.
Karen urged those taking life sustaining medications of any kind to ask questions of medical professionals. "Fight to see your specialist" if you are unwell.
"Fight if you feel that your GP isn't giving you the correct advice," she said.
"Seek help from advocacy groups if needed. Fight, because quite frankly, you could be fighting for your life."
