Pubdate: Mon, 22 Oct 2012
Source: Gloucestershire Echo (UK)
Copyright: 2012 Northcliffe Electronic Publishing Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2301

CONCERN AFTER DEATH OF LAURENCE PERCIVAL WITH CANNABIS-INDUCED MENTAL 
HEALTH PROBLEMS

THE family of a man with cannabis-induced mental health problems say 
he was "let down" by the system before he drank a toxic substance.

Tests could not identify the poison Laurence Percival, 33, took the 
day before his death in November 2008.

He told paramedics who were called to his sheltered accommodation in 
Heathville Road, Gloucester, that he had drunk washing-up liquid.

But experts told an inquest this was very unlikely to have caused the 
shutdown of major organs that led to his death.

After the hearing at Gloucester Coroners Court, his father Malcolm 
warned other young people about the dangers of cannabis.

"All Laurence's mental health problems came about through cannabis 
use," he said. "He started using the drug at school and carried on 
when he went to university."

The drug took over, he said, and led to schizophrenia.

Laurence's mother Marisa Percival told the inquest that for the last 
18 months of his life, his doctors would not talk to her about his 
case because he had not signed a consent form allowing them to do so.

But she told Deputy Gloucestershire Coroner David Dooley she did not 
believe he had the mental capacity to make that decision.

Laurence, formerly of Cheltenham, was treated at Wotton Lawn hospital 
until he went into his lodgings in 2008.

In a narrative verdict, Mr Dooley said Laurence had suffered from 
schizophrenia and on November 27, 2008, had ingested toxic fluid 
which caused his death.

After the inquest, his sister Mandy said: "It was during his last 
period of hospital admission that we, as a family, believed that 
despite his fractured mind and severe psychotic episodes, the mental 
health team were not prepared to override the 'consent to share' rule 
which prevented co-operation with us and finally resulted in Laurence 
being placed within the community in accommodation not geared up to 
deal with his high risk mental health problems, which eventually 
resulted in his death."

A spokesman for the 2gether NHS Foundation Trust said: "We were 
unable to share information about Mr Percival's treatment with his 
family, as we must respect the wishes of our services users in line 
with national guidance.

"We will now review how information is shared between supported 
lodgings and mental health services."

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- - Any families who have faced similar concerns can contact the 
Percival family via the newsdesk on 01452 698821.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom