Glasgow dad's tragic death after 'routine drug' reaction

Glasgow Times

10-07-2025

John Young suffered from rheumatoid and osteoarthritis for 20 years before undergoing a successful surgery at University Hospital Hairmyres, where he was given six blood-thinning Clexane injections to prevent clots.
Despite his family raising concerns with medics that the 59-year-old was struggling with his mobility and still appeared medically unwell, they say he was discharged and told to continue taking the medication to prevent DVTs.
Just days later, John collapsed at home and was rushed by ambulance to A&E at University Hospital Wishaw, where medics administered a powerful dose of anticoagulant Heparin to flush out clots in his lungs and aortic valve.
John with his grandkids (Image: supplied) He was then transferred to a cardiovascular consultant back at Hairmyres, where it is claimed the drug was given again for around five hours. The family say doctors then realised that it was causing damage to his organs.
Daughter Candice Coleman, 33, told how they had to watch helplessly for four days as her dad died an agonising slow death.
Speaking exclusively to the Glasgow Times, she said: 'My dad passed in the most horrendous way, screaming out in pain because of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT).
'There was no 4T screening carried out to determine if he might suffer a reaction, so by the time doctors realised what was wrong, severe damage had already been done. Instead of stopping clots from forming, the medication caused more to form on his lungs and in the aortic valve. His legs turned purple and his kidney function plummeted, along with his platelets. His body started shutting down right in front of us.
'Dad was moved to intensive care and the consultants were very honest, telling us they had never seen this happen at any point in their careers. They told us the best-case scenario would see his legs amputated and the worst was that he wouldn't survive.
John in ICU (Image: supplied) 'For four days we had to just sit and watch him suffer. It was beyond heartbreaking - and then we were told there was nothing more they were able to do.'
John was put on end-of-life care to make him comfortable and the family could only sit and hold his hand as he passed away on June 21.
John's feet due to blood clots (Image: supplied) Candice said: 'He waited five years for a hip replacement that ultimately cost him his life.
'The surgery itself went well, we had no idea that blood thinning medication could cause vital organs to stop working. I feel I've been robbed of my dad, and that's why we want 4T screening introduced across the NHS to ensure this does not happen to anyone else.
'This procedure is carried out in America before these drugs are administered, so why not here? It could have saved my dad's life if it was standard practice across Scotland's health boards.'
'That is what we will now be campaigning for in my dad's memory.'
John Young was a proud family man (Image: supplied) John, who was raised in Barrowfield in the East End of Glasgow before moving to Holytown for the last 25 years, was a devoted husband to wife Jacqueline, dad to Candice and brother Ryan, 29, as well as a proud grandfather to Amiee 16, Blake, eight, and seven-year-old Anna.
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He worked for 30 years with meat manufacturers Calder Millerfield in Dalmarnock before being medically retired.
Candice said: 'He was a real family man and would do anything to help others. He was the best father and grandad and knowing that he's gone now through no fault of his own is absolutely devastating.'
The family is demanding answers from health board chiefs.
John Young (Image: supplied) Candice added: 'We want justice and we want a proper explanation as to how this was allowed to happen.
'Our dad's life mattered and we are now taking legal steps to ensure no one else goes through the heartbreak we have had to endure. We thought my dad would be enjoying life after getting a new hip, but instead he's been cruelly robbed of his future because of a recognised, albeit rare, complication."
The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service told the Glasgow Times that they are now investigating the circumstances surrounding John's death. NHS Lanarkshire is also carrying out a detailed review into his care.
Candice added: 'We welcome the investigation and hope this prevents this from happening again, but it won't bring back my dad. We miss him so much – you never expect a nightmare like this to happen to your own family.'
A COPFS spokesperson said: "The Procurator Fiscal has received a report on the death of a 59-year-old man in East Kilbride on 21 June 2025.
"An investigation is ongoing and any significant developments will be shared with the family of Mr Young.'
Russell Coulthard, director of acute services at NHS Lanarkshire, added: 'Although we are unable to comment on the details of this individual case just now, our thoughts and sympathies are with the family at this tragic time.
'NHS Lanarkshire will undertake a review of this patient's death and our senior clinicians have already had extensive conversations with the family. We will continue to liaise directly with them.'
Candice has also written to the makers of the medication, Sanofi, to make them aware of what happened when the drug was given to her dad.
In a letter back, the company passed on their condolences and said the case had been forwarded to its pharmacovigilance department, which monitors all reports of adverse effects associated with its medicines.
Candice said: "We want change. We want proper testing. We don't want this to happen to anyone else."