THE mother of a man left in an induced coma for a month after Colchester General Hospital medics gave him 50 times the recommended dose of a drug has launched legal action.

Joe Whitson, 41, was rushed to Colchester General Hospital after suffering a major seizure.

He was given Phenytoin, a stabiliser drug used to combat seizures, and appeared to be on the road to recovery.

But instead of gradually reducing the amount of the drug during each top-up, Mr Whitson kept being given the same dose.

By the time the error had been spotted two days later, he had been given 50 times the recommended dosage and had fallen unconscious.

For the full story, see Thursday's Gazette