Inquest hears of "concerns" around MF Doom's treatment at Leeds hospital before his death
The seminal rapper died on October 31, 2020 after suffering an adverse reaction to blood pressure medication
An inquest has heard of "concerns" around the treatment received by MF Doom at a Leeds hospital shortly before his death on October 31, 2020, Leeds Live reports.
The seminal rapper died suddenly three years ago, after being hospitalised with an adverse reaction to blood pressure medication at St. James' University Hospital, Leeds — where his condition had quickly deteriorated.
The 49-year-old artist, who had been residing in Yorkshire with his wife and five children since 2010, had taken "two doses" of the medication before he began to suffer with breathing problems and his "tongue and throat had started to swell" - prompting him to go A&E at St. James'.
Read this next: Blazing fire hits nightclub in Phnom Penh
Representatives for the family of MF DOOM, real name Dumile Daniel Thompson, are investigating the quality of treatment he received at the hospital — In particular the lack of attention paid to him by hospital staff and the fact there was reportedly a "two hour delay" in administering medication for his swollen throat.
Jasmin Thompson, who was MF DOOM's wife, told the inquest that she had a "number of concerns" while her husband was being treated at the hospital, claiming that he had called her on October 21 "in distress" that his symptoms were getting worse and he was unable to reach a buzzer to alert medical staff by his bedside.
Mrs Thompson told the court that she had used a second phone to contact ward staff to alert them to her husbands condition, and was told she would not be able to visit him due to COVID restrictions.
Read this next: Palestinian DJ, producer and curator Odai Masri, aka ODDZ, has died
"I was not able to see him until the 31st," she said. "That's when the respirator was turned off that was helping him breathe."
Wakefield Coroner's Court was told that MF Doom had attempted to climb out of his bed, complaining that he "couldn't breathe" before collapsing and going into cardiac arrest.
Doctors at St James's claim that MF DOOM had been under close monitoring by staff, and before his collapse, say he had shown signs of improvement — he had good oxygen levels and was able to converse with doctors, they say.
However the rare side effect to his medication, Angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, had caused him to develop angiodema — an extreme swelling of the body.
Read this next: Four Tet has made an album with Madlib
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust launched a "serious incident investigation" following DOOM's death, and report that recommendations were made in how to treat patients suffering with angiodema. The inquest is currently ongoing.
[Via: Leeds Live]
Megan Townsend is Mixmag's Deputy Editor, follow her on Twitter
