Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Doctors fatally mistook fracture

Stephen Goodwin Scotland Correspondent
Tuesday 16 February 1999 01:02 GMT
Comments

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.

MEDICAL STAFF at a Glasgow hospital thought a 16-year-old boy was behaving aggressively because he had been drinking or taking drugs. In fact, he had fractured his skull in a fall.

A fatal accident inquiry at Glasgow Sheriff Court heard yesterday that staff at the Victoria Infirmary called the police and Gordon Niven was arrested and held in a cell for three hours. He died two days laterin another hospital.

Gordon, from the Shawlands area of Glasgow, had been injured in a fall off a bicycle but the injury was only suspected hours later by a police surgeon called to the cells.

His mother, Patricia Niven, broke down in the witness box as she described seeing her son in the Victoria Infirmary on 23 September 1997. "There was blood on his face," she said. But staff seemed more concerned about his behaviour. He was lashing out and had punched a nurse. A consultant told Mrs Niven Gordon had been drinking vodka and as head injuries went, his was not that bad. A nurse said he had the "classic behaviour of a drug addict".

The inquiry continues.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in