RSS Feed
January 31st, 2012 
FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda - Disease ‘dominated’ Dr Melanie Spooner’s life since 13
- Found by her parents at her flat after suffering heart failure, inquest heard
- Left note expressing ‘messages of love to her family’
- Had been on long-term sick leave from St Thomas’ Children’s Hospital
By
Rebecca Evans and Larisa Brown
Last updated at 9:09 AM on 31st January 2012
‘Somebody of substantial talent’: Paediatrician Melanie Spooner died of heart failure after a 17-year battle with anorexia, an inquest was told
A talented doctor weighed less than four stone when she died after succumbing to the anorexia which had dominated her life.
Cambridge-educated Dr Melanie Spooner, 30, had battled the eating disorder since the age of 13 and was on long-term sick leave from her children’s hospital.
After her weight plummeted to 3st 11lb, she suffered heart failure and was found dead by her parents at her flat in Woolwich, south-east London.
Dr Spooner, who was awarded a first-class degree in Natural Sciences from Downing College, had also spent time working in Borneo as a flying doctor.
An inquest at Southwark Coroner’s Court yesterday heard that she suffered from depression and would rarely eat in public.
She had been off work for 11 months from St Thomas’ Children’s Hospital when she died in September.
Her parents Robert and Jane broke into her flat after they were unable to contact her.
They found her body and a note in the kitchen expressing ‘messages of love to her family’, the court heard.
Mr Spooner told the inquest that his daughter had ‘a very healthy childhood’ but had struggled with anorexia throughout her teenage years.
‘My wife helped her back to very good health at about the age of 18 when she went to university but there was the potential to slip up afterwards.’
The chairman of the Royal College of GPs, Dr Clare Gerada, examined Dr Spooner in October 2010.
She told the inquest that Dr Spooner refused to speak to a psychiatrist as she preferred the help of her family and said she ‘did not want to be treated like a child’.
Dominated by the disease: Dr Spooner had been off work for 11 months from her job at St Thomas’ Children’s Hospital at the time of her death in September
She added: ‘I didn’t weigh her because she didn’t want to be weighed, and she didn’t want to go into psychological issues in consultation.’
A post-mortem examination revealed that Dr Spooner died of cardiac arrhythmia – a heart condition commonly associated with anorexia.
Recording a verdict of natural causes, coroner Dr Adela Williams said: ‘It is always sad when someone dies but worse so when the loss is of such a talented young woman.
‘Melanie was troubled ever since early adolescence by a devastating mental health problem, and that caused her to suffer severe weight loss and abnormal eating patterns.
‘My own impression from the evidence I’ve heard is that it dominated her life. She was clearly somebody of substantial talent, and I understand she was a talented paediatrician.
‘Clearly, in the context of her low weight, her employers became concerned about her.
‘Her weight, while very low indeed, did not further decrease. She was hoping to return to work and, had thoughts of going to work in Australia.
‘It is clear from the evidence I have heard that she had experienced lowness in mood, and her parents became aware of this before she died.’
Dr Spooner achieved the highest possible grades for her A-levels and won a long line of scholastic prizes while she studied at the Royal Free and University College Medical School.
She was also chosen from 1,500 students to be awarded the bronze medal from the University of London after earning a distinction in clinical practice.
In addition, she coxed her university college men’s rowing crew, played clarinet for two university groups and volunteered for various charities.
Her family, including her brother Simon, said in an obituary for the British Medical Journal that she would be remembered as a ‘kind, generous, gentle and caring physician, daughter, sister and friend’.
They added: ‘She always made time for those who needed her, supported and encouraged those around her and amazed and inspired those who knew her.’
Share this article:
Here’s what other readers have said. Why not add your thoughts,
or debate this issue live on our message boards.
The comments below have been moderated in advance.
-
Newest -
Oldest -
Best rated -
Worst rated
As a bulimic and recovering anorexic, I can safely tell you that it’s all about control and low self-esteem. We don’t want to be feeling crazy (who would?) or beg for attention, but like any addiction, it’s extremely difficult to break alone. It’s real, people.
Report abuse
I am almost certain I met this lady in a Hitchin doctors surgery about 5 years ago. I remember her being very thin and that her surname was spooner. How sad for her and everyone involved x
Report abuse
“A sad loss. Interestingly, the BMJ obituary for this young lady mentioned nothing about anorexia or mental health though.”
Yes, I think it said “pneumonia” didn’t it? I remember finding it odd that a young person with apparently no other health issues would die of pneumonia.
Perhaps they missed an opportunity to remind us all that anyone can suffer with mental health problems.
Report abuse
How terribly sad and such a loss of a very talented lady. However, just a thought – would we extend the same sympathy to someone who was morbidly obese with these talents ? I wonder..
Report abuse
where is the evidence that the media are to blame in this case? These comments are all from women I notice. RIP.
Report abuse
I’m sorry the illness has taken this promising young ladys life. Its a shame people who do the opposite and eat too much dont get the same sympathy and treatment.
Report abuse
How two faced some people can be.
Someone dies of anorexia, an eating disorder, everyone is sad, full of sympathy,
If someone else died of binge-eating bulimia causing morbid obesity, everyone would say “fat cow, it’s all her own fault”.
Yes, the fact this poor woman was literally tortured by her own mind, but so are many other people, so why do the ones starving themselves to death get the sympathy, but those eating themselves to death just get derision?
Eating disorders are eating disorders, and every death from them is a tragedy.
Report abuse
So sad. I wonder why her family or the doctor who assessed her didn’t request assessment under the mental health act
Report abuse
well im starting to get a phobia to food so i better get help im terrified
– me lyon , here, 31/1/2012 06:01
If this is genuine, then I wish you luck in getting the help you need and you don’t deserve the red arrows, HOWEVER, if it is sarcasm, then you should not belittle someone who has suffered and paid the ultimate price.
Report abuse
My daughter was also brilliant academically but had anorexia that contributed to her last illness.
She had just qualified to be an MD. This is one illness I find so hard to understand.
People with terrible mental problems often look ok on the outside but these sufferers certainly don’t.
Report abuse
The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.
Related posts:
Views: 0
Posted in 
Tags: 
