Katherine Hallas, 22, died from complications in March 1999.

A verdict of misadventure has been recorded on a nursery assistant who never regained consciousness after an operation to remove her wisdom teeth.

Katherine Hallas was pronounced brain dead in the intensive care unit at Leeds General Infirmary two days after the operation and her life support machine was switched off.

An inquest in West Yorkshire on Thursday heard that the 22-year-old from Leeds, may not have been fit enough to undergo surgery.

The inquest heard that tests had been carried out on Ms Hellas for neurological problems and epilepsy. She was also described as obese and asthmatic.

Operation fears

But the anaesthetist wasn't told this until she had been put to sleep.

Coroner David Hinchliffe said discussions had taken place about whether to abandon the operation but it went ahead.

"It should have been regarded as inappropriate to anaesthetise a patient who had an undiagnosed neurological condition," he said.

"But at the time the anaesthetist did not have the luxury of that information."

Her mother Julia Ward said at the time of her daughter's death in March 1999 Miss Hallas had spoken of her fears about the operation.

Reference
BBC News