Charges dropped in Chicago allergy death

Monday, 05 January 2009 22:03

Criminal abuse charges were dropped against two mental health centre employees who were blamed in the death of a former Chicago man fed fish at the centre despite warnings that he was allergic, the Chicago Tribune has reported.

In June 2008, the 58-year-old patient went into anaphylactic shock and died after being fed fish despite warnings, including notes on his chart and special coloured cards on his food tray, that he was allergic.

A coroner's jury had ruled that his death was homicide by negligence but prosecutors moved to dismiss the criminal abuse charges, saying there was not enough evidence to prove that the staffers had intentionally fed fish to the patient with the knowledge it might result in his death.