Vic: Depressed mother died less than a month after child birth

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Vic: Depressed mother died less than a month after child birth

A Coroner's Court has heard that a mother taking medication for post-natal depressiondied less than a month after her second baby was born.

34-year-old DEBRA JOY SMEETON of Beechworth in north-eastern Victoria was taking theanti-depressant Dothiepin when she failed to wake up beside her husband JIM on November12, 1999.

The court's heard that Mrs SMEETON suffered severe post-natal depression after thebirth of her first child in 1996.

She was seen by Dr IAN DOUGLAS, a psychiatrist at Wangaratta District Hospital at thetime, who considered her delusional and a high suicide risk.

Shortly before the birth of her second child in October 1999, Mrs SMEETON saw Dr DOUGLASand began taking anti-depressants five weeks prior to the birth.

JIM SMEETON later contacted Dr DOUGLAS to say his wife's condition had worsened.

Mr SMEETON'S barrister JOHN CONSTABLE said this was the only occasion Dr DOUGLAS warnedhis client to lock up the medication and kitchen knives and not leave his wife alone.

Dr DOUGLAS said he didn't tell the SMEETONS about the risk of an overdose from DOTHIEPINbecause he believed that knowledge could be dangerous.

Coroner JACINTA HEFFEY said she regarded this approach as patronising.

The case is continuing.

AAP RTV hmg/gfr/ldj/rp

KEYWORD: SMEETON (MELBOURNE)