Short supply of a narcotic leads to an inhumane death

The drug in question was diamorphine, or heroin:

The former husband of a mother of three says she died in agony from cancer because of a shortage of a painkiller.

Joe Fortescue from Alfreton, Derbyshire wants the government to provide more diamorphine, which has been in short supply since 2004.

He said his 49-year-old ex-wife from Nottingham was screaming in pain in the days before her death because it was not available.

Gedling Primary Care Trust said there was a national shortage of the drug.

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Tagged as: cancer, primary care