A YOUNG man who lost four stone in five months just “wasted away”, an inquest heard.Carl McLaughlin , 23, was said to have underlying anorexia but despite extensive medical investigations no cause could be found for his problems.
By Richard Cornwell
A YOUNG man who lost four stone in five months just “wasted away”, an inquest heard.
Carl McLaughlin , 23, was said to have underlying anorexia but despite extensive medical investigations no cause could be found for his problems.
Mr McLaughlin's family became hugely worried about him after they noticed the weight dropping off him over several months.
A student, he had moved out of the family home to live at the YMCA in Wellington Road, Ipswich, about 18 months before his death.
When his family saw him a while after this they noticed he had become really thin. They pressed him to see a doctor but he assured them there was nothing wrong with him.
Greater Suffolk coroner Dr Peter Dean said the weight continued to drop off him and his family were devastated to see him becoming so thin.
Mr McLaughlin suffered a four stone weight loss in five months but said he had no loss of appetite and was eating two meals a day as normal but was unable to put on any weight.
He saw a range of doctors and specialists and underwent many tests and medical investigations to determine what was wrong with him - all of whom provided the inquest with extensive reports of his care.
He also saw a psychiatric liaison team to see if there was some underlying psychological problems which was causing the weight loss but this also failed to reveal any answers.
The extreme weight loss continued, affecting many of his internal organs, and he deteriorated rapidly and died in hospital on January 19 from bacterial pneumonia with wasting and anorexia the underlying causes.
Dr Dean said: “What has come through to me from his family is how very much Carl was loved. Unfortunately, despite very thorough investigations no medical cause to the underlying anorexia could be determined.
“No-one really knows why Carl died or what happened to cause him the problems which led to him passing away.”
He recorded an open verdict.
Did you know Carl and would like to pay tribute to him? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail EveningStarLetters@eveningstar.co.uk
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