Widower of advocate Paul McNairney calls for halt to insulin device

Paul McNairney

Paul McNairney died in November last year at the age of 39 after spending several days in intensive care.

He had received an Omnipod device on the NHS to treat his diabetes and had worn it without issue since the summer, The Herald reports.

The device administers insulin automatically and requires users to complete a course in advance of using it. Mr McNairney had completed the course in July.

On 7 November, however, his widower Scott Craig found him in bed sweating profusely. He injected him with an emergency glucagon syringe but, seeing no change, called an ambulance.

After spending several days in intensive care at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow, it was confirmed he had suffered catastrophic and irreparable brain damage.

Mr Craig said he wanted to raise awareness over faulty Omnipods.

He said: “This device is used worldwide so people need to know what happened as even a single avoidable death is one too many.”

While an exact cause of death has not yet been confirmed, Digby Brown Solicitors said there was “alarming” data from Mr Mcnairney’s Omnipod.

The device should have given him a dose of 1.15 units at breakfast time. This is known as a ‘bolus’ dose. The data show, however, that he was given a dose of 16.9 units, enough to put him in a coma. The device thereafter delivered an additional three bolus doses of 17.05 units each – over the course of 48 minutes.

Mr Craig said: “I believe there is no way Paul died because of an oversight on his part. He managed his condition his whole life and used syringes for years without issue but died within months of using this pod. I think this is more than coincidence.

“I need to know how this happened. Paul’s family and friends need to know. Other pod users need to know. We all deserve to know.”

Mr Craig added: “Paul was intelligent, kind and calm. He was also uncommonly humble and could instantly be friends with anyone.

“I don’t know how I’m meant to get over this – we only married five months ago.”

Mark Gibson, head of product liability at Digby Brown, said: “Firstly, I commend Mr Craig talking about the loss of his husband in the hope of helping others – it takes great strength to do so.

“As I understand it, a medical device is indeed being analysed by the authorities for any part it may have played in the death of Mr Mcnairney and in the meantime we will continue to support his loved ones and help them get the answers they deserve.”

US firm Insulet, which makes the device, said: “Consumer safety is Insulet’s number one priority. Our products are highly regulated and we have comprehensive controls and procedures in place to ensure the safety of our products.

“Insulet has been made aware of this unfortunate incident and is working with the MHRA in the UK to obtain the device for further investigation.

“At this point, we do not have evidence of a device malfunction or performance issue. Further analysis will be conducted upon receiving the device. Insulet has been safely and effectively designing, manufacturing and distributing the Omnipod system for more than 15 years and it is safe to use as intended with a prescription.”

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service said: “The procurator fiscal has received a report in connection with the death of a 39-year-old man in Glasgow on 10 November.

“The investigation into the death is ongoing and the family will continue to be kept updated in relation to any significant developments.”