Death quiz doctor Priya Ramnath in court

Feb 29 2008

A MIDLAND doctor charged with killing a British patient with an injection of adrenaline almost 10 years ago has been remanded on bail after arriving back in the UK from Texas.

Priya Ramnath moved to the US in 1998 just days after she was accused of killing Patricia Leighton, aged 51, from Burntwood, Staffordshire, by injecting her with adrenaline against her colleagues' advice.

The 39-year-old arrived at London's Gatwick Airport where she was arrested by officers from Staffordshire Police.

Dr Ramnath was then taken to Cannock police station in Staffordshire where she was charged with gross negligent manslaughter.

She then appeared at Cannock Magistrates' Court and was granted conditional bail to appear at Stafford Crown Court on March 7.

Mrs Leighton was admitted to Staffordshire General Hospital in 1998 with a painful bunion and monitored by an intensive care team.

A coroner ruled in 2004 that she was unlawfully killed after hearing that Ramnath, who denies manslaughter, had injected adrenaline against her colleagues' advice when Mrs Leighton's blood pressure fell.