Andre Maddock News Today

Andre Maddock with partner Nadia Jooste and their then 18-month-old son Lucas. Photo: Supplied. Judge Deborah Marshall was not able to confirm a switch to the lamotrigine brand Logem caused the deaths, although could not rule it out as a background factor for two of them. As such no recommendations were made. Arabella Gubay, a patient advocate whose daughter has epilepsy, was furious. "Im absolutely shocked and heartbroken that the coroner was looking for 100 percent certainty that the brand s...

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Maddock’s death was ruled a sudden unexpected death in epilepsy, “on a background of recent brand switch to Logem, insomnia, an increase in the dose of lamotrigine and mild chronic appendicitis”. Coroner Marshall said as there was no clear link between the drug switch and the deaths, she was unable to make any recommendations. She said she accepted the evidence Logem was “fit for purpose”. Maddock’s partner Nadia Jooste was with him when he died at their Torbay home. She said t...

But from October 1, 2019, Pharmac funded Logem only, other than in exceptional circumstances. SUPPLIED/Stuff.co.nz William Oliver switched to Logem in April 2019 and died four months later. Multiple families told the coroner they and their loved ones were unaware of, and under-educated about, the brand switch. One doctor learned of the change through reports of his patients death in the media. Coroner Marshall said evidence provided during the inquest showed advice by Pharmac in relation to...

But Judge Deborah Marshall found Pharmac's communication on the change in medication was "lacking".

Friday, 21 May 2021, 5:06 am PHARMAC accepts the coroner’s comments that not all information about the brand change reached patients. “We offer our deepest condolences to the families and friends of Ricky Blackler, Reuben Brown, Krystle Loye, Andre Maddock, William Oliver, and Jessica Reid,” says PHARMAC’s director of operations Lisa Williams. “I attended every day of the inquest and listened to all evidence shared. The strength of the families of those who passed away was inspiring ...

In November, Marshall heard from six families as part of an ongoing investigation into the cause and circumstances of the deaths and whether the brand change affected seizure control. The deceased include Ricky Blackler, a 24-year-old scaffolder, Reuben Brown, a 27-year-old farmer, 35-year-old Krystal Loye, sales representative Andre Maddock, 31, student William Oliver, 26, and Jessica Reid, a 23-year-old animal groomer at a pet store. Epilepsy is a common disorder in which nerve cell activ...