Old Bayer Heroin bottle. (Public domain image via Encyclopedia.com)
Oops? The Middlesborough Evening Gazette wrongly reported a man who died in March was hooked on heroin.
The Gazette article in question reported that the inquest into his death stated he was a heroin addict.
The Gazette is a local newspaper in England owned by Trinity Mirror Group.
The inquest only determined he died of aspiration pneumonia, the Gazette reported.
Even though the heroin erred about heroin, a pathologist for the inquest found that the man he had a shopping list of drugs in his system:
- Tramadol, a pain reliever
- Pregabelin, which is used to “relieve neuropathic pain”
- Gabapentin, which is used to help treat seizures
- Cocaine
- Alcohol
The Gazette has since published an apology at the bottom of its report following a complaint by his father John Woodier to the Press Complaints Commission.
“On April 3, gazettelive.co.uk carried a report of the inquest into the death of Liam Woodier.
“The report stated that Liam had a heroin dependency.
“This was not stated at the inquest.
“We accept this is not true and was a mistake in reporting by The Gazette.
We would like to apologise to Mr Woodier’s family and friends for our mistake.”
