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Doubts over results of Post Mortem tests concerning the late Canon Rodney Hunter.

Posted Friday 27^th April 2007

ANGLICAN-INFORMATION reports that persistent doubts about the reliability of the post mortem results conducted after the sad death of Canon Rodney Hunter, late of Nkhotakota, Diocese of Lake Malawi, have been encouraged by the piecemeal and secretive way in which the post mortem findings have been released.

It has recently been leaked in the U.K. press that the three ‘poisons’ discovered by the post mortem were: Metronidazol, Phenothiazine and Promethazine Hydrochloride. The three ‘poisons’ are in fact pharmaceutical drugs that are not characteristically associated with poisonings. Readers can check the Internet for themselves to find many examples of these products typically at:

http://www.healthline.com/multumcontent/metronidazole

Metronidazole is an antibiotic. It is used to treat conditions such as abdominal infections, skin and tissue infections, bone and joint infections, gynecologic infections, and respiratory tract infections. Do not drink alcohol while taking metronidazole. Flushing, fast heartbeats, nausea, and vomiting may occur when alcohol is ingested during metronidazole therapy.

http://www.tiscali.co.uk/lifestyle/healthfitness/health_advice/netdoctor/archive/100003822.html

Promethazine Hydrochloride Elixir

Used for allergic conditions such as hay fever and itchy rash and, difficulty in sleeping. This medicine may cause drowsiness. If affected do not drive or operate machinery. Alcohol should be avoided.

http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-phenothi.html

Phenothiazine , any one of a class of drugs used to control mental disorders. Phenothiazines, along with other antipsychotic, or neuroleptic, drugs are used for such disorders as schizophrenia, paranoia, mania, psychosis resulting from mental deficiency, some forms of senility, hyperactivity in children, and even severe anxiety.

It is not clear whether Canon Hunter was in fact taking any of these medications at the time of his death and it is difficult in any case to see how they would have caused his demise. As described above their effects can be exacerbated by alcohol and Canon Hunter enjoyed a party evening with friends before he died although it is not clear what was consumed.

In addition the tragic reports of ‘black vomit’ associated with Canon Hunter’s death are typical of: Coffee ground projectile vomiting, which refers to a particular appearance and type of vomit. Blood contains iron within heme molecules in red blood cells . When this iron has been exposed to gastric acid for some time, it becomes oxidized . This reaction causes the vomitus to look like ground coffee. Coffee-ground vomitus is a classic sign of upper gastro-intestinal bleeding – often associated with cancer. The longer the bleeding has been taking place (often months) the darker and blacker the vomit becomes. It is most likely that Dennis Kayamba in enthusiastically interpreting the black vomit as evidence of poisoning is mistaken.

This unfortunate and horrible phenomenon is in fact associated with the terminal phase of types of cancer including that from which Canon Hunter suffered, to the point of being advised by U.K. doctors that he did not have long to live and should return to the U.K.

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Despite speculative and irresponsible press reports based almost entirely on the accounts of the Rev’d Dennis Kayamba, suspended Dean of All Saints Cathedral, there are, in the light of the above, reasonable doubts expressed by those who have felt that the ‘murder’ of Canon Hunter by poisoning is simply not credible.

As a result and not helped by subsequent mischievous and unsubstantiated reporting, innocent people (including Canon Hunter’s loyal and faithful cook – who is still in prison) have been arrested, the Diocese of Lake Malawi is still without its elected Bishop and the good name of the Church has been brought into disrepute. Not least, also, Canon Hunter’s good name and reputation has been dragged into controversy.

It would be wise, given the serious nature of the matter, if the authorities concerned were to place the full post mortem results in the public arena as soon as possible. It is essential that accurate information is available for assessment and that no further hasty or inaccurate conclusions be drawn.