Teenage girl dies from blood clot after taking contraceptive pill
Sophie Murray's death is the second within a week to be linked to the pill
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A teenage girl died from a blood clot after taking the oral contraceptive pill, an inquest heard.
Sophie Murray, from Accrington, Lancashire, became ill in September, complaining of chest pains and a shortness of breath that prevented her from walking up stairs, the inquest at Blackburn Coroner’s Court heard.
Deputy Blackburn coroner Derek Baker recorded a verdict that the 16-year-old died from “pulmonary embolism as a result of deep vein thrombosis.”
The inquest heard the teen had been on the common contraceptive pill Microgynon and that one of the listed side effects of it was linked to an increased risk of thrombosis, or blood clots.
Dr Richard Prescott told the inquest the oral contraceptive pill, which she had been taking for eight months prior to her death, was a “contributory factor”.
He told the hearing the blood clot, which he described as being “large”, was 8mm in diameter, according to The Sun.
He went on to say that if it had been detected earlier she could have been given blood thinners and survived.
Joanna Birch, a specialist nurse in sudden and unexpected deaths, told the inquest only six out of every 10,000 women on the contraceptive pill develop DTV, compared to only two in 10,000 without the pill, and that fatalities are “extremely rare".
The teenager was found by her mother, Shelley Chricton, after she collapsed at their family home on November 8.
She was taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital where she was pronounced dead.
Ms Chrichton told the inquest: “Sophie was bright, healthy and had no health issues prior to September 23 when she complained of pains in her chest.”
Ms Murray’s mother told the inquest she had taken her daughter to the doctors, where she complained of being short of breath, aching and pins and needles in her arm.
She was prescribed an inhaler after undergoing tests, and diagnosed with exercise induced asthma, on October 15.
Her death comes after that of 21-year-old Fallen Kurek, who suffered a fatal blood clot on her lungs after taking the contraceptive pill for only 25 days.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments