Police have launched a criminal investigation into the death of Bristol teenager Oliver McGowan, marking a milestone in his family's four-year battle for answers.
The 18-year-old from Emersons Green, who had mild autism, epilepsy and learning difficulties, died at Southmead Hospital in November 2016.
He developed severe brain swelling after he was prescribed anti-psychotic medication against his and his parents’ will, and his medical records showed he had an intolerance to anti-psychotic drugs.
Oliver, whose full name was Thomas Oliver McGowan, had been admitted weeks earlier after experiencing simple partial seizures.
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An inquest into his death was held in 2018, but assistant coroner Dr Peter Harrowing said doctors did the right thing in prescribing the medication.
Following the inquest, Oliver's family said they felt the coroner was "ferociously protective" of the doctors and they were "extremely disappointed" with his conclusion.
Today (July 1), Avon and Somerset police confirmed its officers have launched a criminal investigation.
A spokesperson told Bristol Live: "Police are investigating the circumstances behind the death of Oliver McGowan in 2016.
"As part of the enquiry they will interview a number of individuals as they seek to establish the circumstances around Oliver’s death before seeking advice from the Crown Prosecution Service."
The force has not yet confirmed what triggered the launch of the investigation, but said no arrests have been made yet.
Oliver's parents Paula and Tom McGowan believe their son's death was preventable, and have been campaigning for justice for him and other young people with learning disabilities.
'His voice was ignored'
In a statement shared with Bristol Live, Paula said: "His voice was wilfully ignored in life and up until now has been muted in death.
"We embrace the police doing a full and thorough investigation into Oliver's death.
"It is the responsibility of the crown prosecution service to now allow Oliver's story to be heard in a court of law."
The family set up Oliver's Campaign to raise awareness of the tragedy and help to prevent similar deaths.
In her statement, Paula said: "Nobody is above the law - for far too long, too many laws have been broken and ignored where learning disabled people are concerned.
"We have the Mental Capacity Act, the Equality Act, the Human Rights Act, but it seems these laws are not adhered to for this group of people.
"The learning disability mortality review has published that there are well over 1,200 preventable deaths in learning disabled people EVERY year. Oliver was one of them."
'He had a beautiful smile'
In a heartwarming tribute on the campaign website, Oliver's loved ones describe him as having had a "beautiful heart warming smile that everybody was drawn to".
His mum said Oliver made it clear to paramedics and doctors he was not to be administered antipsychotic medication.
She said: "Under the MHA (Mental Health Act) this is called an advanced verbal decision.
"We as Oliver's parents and knew him best told all doctors that we did not give permission for antipsychotic medication to be administered to Oliver.
"We gave supporting letters from other consultant doctors all saying that Oliver was not mentally ill and was sensitive to antipsychotic medications."
This followed claims local health commissioners altered an earlier review of what happened, including removing a finding that it was “avoidable”.
In August 2019, NHS England announced that it will conduct a new review into the teenager's death.
Speaking at the time, Paula said the family "should not have had to fight this hard to get to where we are today".
A spokersperson for North Bristol NHS Trust, which runs Southmead Hospital, said of the latest development: “We will not be commenting on an ongoing police investigation.”
