A coroner has criticised the aftercare procedures of a leading chain of abortion clinics after a 15-year-old schoolgirl died from an avoidable infection after a termination.

An inquest was told how Alesha Thomas, from Huddersfield, suffered toxic shock syndrome (TSS) and had a fatal heart attack five days after having an abortion at the Marie Stopes clinic in Leeds.

The coroner, Roger Whittaker, said he would be writing to the clinic after it was revealed that Alesha had not been given a prescribed course of antibiotics that might have saved her life.

The doctor who performed the operation, Peter Paku, told the hearing at Huddersfield Coroner's Court that it was the first case in the UK he had heard of when someone had contracted the infection after an abortion.

He also said that it was not uncommon for patients to leave the clinic without their prescribed medication as there was no system in place to check notes put on file by the doctor.

“Prescriptions would be forgotten many times and we would have to make arrangements,” he said. The inquest was told that Marie Stopes, the sexual health organisation named after the women's rights campaigner, had no system in place that meant nurses would recheck a patient's notes after they had been discharged to make sure that all instructions had been followed and prescriptions issued.

Alesha, who was described as a “healthy and fit adolescent”, had confided in her mother, Rose Bent, that she was pregnant in June 2007.

After discussing her options, the family opted for an abortion at a Marie Stopes International clinic, which was carried out two weeks later on July 6. But she was discharged from the clinic before picking up an electronic prescription for a course of a prophylactic antibiotic, Doxycyline, to prevent infection.

The teenager subsequently suffered stomach cramps and heavy bleeding, and was advised to take painkillers and contact her local GP. But her condition worsened and five days after the operation she could not move her legs, had glazed eyes and was unresponsive.

Alesha was rushed to hospital but suffered a heart attack on the way to Huddersfield Royal Infirmary on July 11. Recording a narrative verdict, Mr Whittaker said: “If she had had the drugs administered to her the balance of probability suggests she would have been more able to survive than die, which makes it all the more hard for her family in these circumstances.”

About 20 people develop TSS in the UK every year, of which two or three will die because of the condition, caused by a rare reaction to infection by the common bacteria staphylococcus aureus.

A spokesman for the clinic said: “All the staff at Marie Stopes International were deeply saddened to learn of Alesha's tragic death. We wish to extend our sympathies to Alesha's family and recognise that this has inevitably been a difficult and distressing process for them, and for all involved.

“Our first concern is always the support and care of our clients and we aim to ensure that they receive the highest possible standards of advice, treatment and aftercare. We will look closely at the coroner's comments and take further steps, as appropriate, to address any areas of concern that have been identified.”

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