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A “hugely talented” junior doctor stole drugs from her own accident and emergency department in order to take her own life, a court has heard.
A coroner said Doctor Rebecca Ovenden “was better at helping to treat others than she was helping to treat herself”.
An inquest heard how Doctor Rebecca Ovenden stole drugs from her own accident and emergency department in order to take her own life
Assistant coroner Andrew Cox recorded a suicide conclusion and said Rebecca’s death raises questions about doctor’s access to “powerful drugs”
An inquest in Plymouth, Devon, heard that her marriage was in trouble but this did not affect her work – and she was happy in her dual role working in the A&E department at Plymouth’s Derriford Hospital and being a flying doctor with the Devon Air Ambulance.
But the hearing was told that she secreted vials of drugs from work and hid them at home.
Some were found in one of her slippers and syringes were found in her garage of the home she shared with her marine engineer husband Paul.
The inquest was told her husband found her dead in bed at their home one morning in March.
A post mortem concluded she died from drug misuse.
She had also left a suicide note in an opened page in a book of medical notes by her bed.
Toxicology tests also showed she was 1.5 times the legal drink drive limit.
Det Con Sarah Ronayne said: “There was nothing to suggest she was unhappy at work. She was well liked and popular in the department. The nurses loved her and she was very well respected and a really good doctor.”
The inquest heard Becky, as she was known, had some mental health issues and Paul had discovered hidden medicines and syringes at their home – but she was adamant work must not find out
As well as working in the A&E department at Plymouth’s Derriford Hospital and being a flying doctor with the Devon Air Ambulance Becky was also a flying doctor with the Devon Air Ambulance
The detective said Rebecca and her husband were sleeping in separate bedrooms as they decided to split in February 2016 – four years after marrying.
The inquest heard Becky, as she was known, had some mental health issues and Paul had discovered hidden medicines and syringes at their home – but she was adamant work must not find out.
Colleagues and her parents said Becky “preferred to keep her own counsel” and not share her problems.
Dr Anne Hicks, consultant in emergency medicine and Team Mother at the hospital, said Becky was “very humble about her ability”.
She added: “She was uniquely resilient in accepting help that was offered.”
“She was fiercely proud of being a doctor and did not want this side of her to impact on her work environment.”
We have lost a hugely talented young lady who has helped care for a large number of patients and who would have gone on to care for many more – it is an absolute tragedy
Coroner Andrew Cox
Assistant coroner Andrew Cox recorded a suicide conclusion and said Becky was ‘a remarkable young lady’ who was excelling as a doctor and was well liked and regarded by her peers and nursing colleagues.
He said: “This inquest raises the issue of the ease of which doctors have access to powerful drugs.”
But he concluded systems were in place but they could not stop doctors like Rebecca from taking drugs illicitly and using them in this way.
He said: “We have lost a hugely talented young lady who has helped care for a large number of patients and who would have gone on to care for many more – it is an absolute tragedy.”