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The case of Harold Shipman, a healthcare professional who murdered over 200 patients between 1974 and 1998. common themes in cases of serial murder by healthcare professionals, including childhood background, medical career, and the use of controlled drugs. It also examines Shipman's modus operandi and the impact of his crimes on current practices.
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Dr Jerry Seymour
Rotherham Associate Postgraduate Dean, Yorkshire and Humber Deanery 28 June 2012
Colin Norris – convicted of 4 murders 2008
HYDE – Harold Shipman – convicted of 15 murders 2001
Beverly Allitt – convicted of 4 murders 1993
Harold “Fred” Shipman murdered 218 (? 263) of his patients over a 27
year period, starting as a medical house officer. They died by i.v.
injection of strong analgesics/ diamorphine. The mean age of his
established victims was 75; most were healthy at the time of death; 80%
were women.
Why did he do it?
How did he get away with it?
Versus E.B.M. / meta-analyses.
Tradition in Psychiatric enquiry.
Educational not salacious.
2001 – 2005. Dame Janet Smith
6 Reports
1 st^ Analysis of deaths
2 nd^ The Police inquiry 1996-
3 rd^ Death Certification / Coroners
4 th^ Controlled Drugs
5 th^ GMC : Revalidation
6 th^ Pontefract Deaths (Sandra Whitehead)
1964 3 A-levels (retakes)
1965 – 1970 Leeds Medical School MBChB
1970 – 1974 Pontefract GI
6/12 HS 6/12 HP 3 unlawful killings 6/12 Paediatrics SHO 3 significant suspicion 6/12 Medicine SHO 18 some suspicion 3/12 Paediatrics Registrar 6/12 O&G SHO
1974 – 1975 General Practice, Todmorden 1 unlawful killing
8 suspicious deaths (3 in 1 day)
November 1975 Todmorden partners called Police re Pethidine misuse. Interviewed by Police in The Retreat re drug abuse, admitted using 600- 700 mg/day for 18 months. “Started taking it when depressed as not getting on with other partners in the practice”. Up to 14 injections/day (already killed 4/31). 30,000mg ordered for “practice use”.
February 1976 Halifax Magistrates Court – charged with 8 offences: 3 obtaining controlled drugs by deception 3 unlawful possession controlled drugs 2 forging declarations of exemptions for prescription charges
Pleaded guilty and asked for 74 more offences to be taken into consideration. Fined £657.78 + ordered to pay £58.78 compensation to NHS (allowed to pay £50/month).
GMC : Caution; agreed not to work in General Practice again.
January 2000 Preston Crown Court 15 life sentences for murder and 4 years for forgery of Emily Grundy Will.
Central to any Police investigation of serial killing.
First murder held to be highly significant psychologically.
Shipman signed 76 death certificates in his 6 months as Medical SHO 47% of these 6pm – midnight
Recorded himself as present at death on 33% of cremation forms (average 1.6%)
Dame Janet Smith sixth report :
“I think he might well have killed patients in the late evening in order to avoid being called out in the middle of the night… patients who would soon die but were occupying beds urgently needed… he might well have killed because he was annoyed with a patient or regarded him/her as in some way „unworthy‟.”
