Trust patient unlawfully killed

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A young father who died from an infection that doctors failed to spot was unlawfully killed, an inquest jury has decided.

Sean Phillips, 31, of Southampton, who was in hospital for a knee operation, died of toxic shock syndrome in 2000.

In 2003, doctors Amit Misra and Rajeev Srivastava were convicted of manslaughter by gross negligence.

Annabel Grant, Mr Phillip's partner, said after the inquest that it was now "closure and time to lay him to rest".

It is time for myself, my family and our son Mitchell to try to find some happiness in our life and move on Annabel Grant

Mr Phillips, originally from Faversham in Kent, was admitted for minor surgery to repair a torn knee ligament at Southampton General Hospital on 23 June, 2000.

He was due to be released the following day but died days later from toxic shock syndrome, leaving behind his two-year-old son Mitchell and partner Annabel Grant.

Miss Grant, 33, said outside the inquest: "I feel justice has been done for Sean. We have done everything that we can for him. It is closure and time to lay him to rest.

"It is time for myself, my family and our son Mitchell to try to find some happiness in our life and move on."

A jury of four men and four women at Southampton coroner's court accepted directions from coroner Keith Wiseman to rule that Mr Phillips was unlawfully killed.

Mr Wiseman expressed his condolences to the family of Mr Phillips after the verdict was read out.

We sincerely hope that this legal process draws a line under the tragedy Mark Hacketttrust chief executive <a href="/1/hi/england/hampshire/4900080.stm" class="">Hospital faces up to death</a>

Senior house officers Amit Misra and Rajeev Srivastava were convicted of the manslaughter and sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended for two years, and were also suspended by the General Medical Council (GMC).

Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust was charged under the Health and Safety Act with not properly managing the two doctors.

The trust was fined £100,000 and ordered to pay £10,000 costs.

It has been granted leave to appeal the level of the fine and is awaiting a hearing date at the Court of Appeal in London.

Mark Hackett, chief executive of the trust, said outside the inquest: "We sincerely hope that this legal process draws a line under the tragedy and enables Mr Phillips' family to move on."