A hospital has reviewed its chemotherapy procedure after a cancer sufferer died after he was administered a drug above the recommended dose, an inquest heard.

Edward Lane, 65, of Ryedale Way, Allerton, Bradford, died at Bradford Royal Infirmary in March, 13 days after he received his first dose of Taxotere, a drug to treat his prostate cancer.

The dose, an amount usually reserved for sufferers of breast cancer, had exceeded the recommended amount for prostate cancer by a third.

Recording a verdict of death by misadventure at Bradford Coroner's Court yesterday, Coroner Roger Whittaker said it did not imply negligence on behalf of the hospital.

Mr Whittaker also asked Bradford Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust to ensure the National Patient Safety Agency had received a report on the incident. He said: "There is a relation between the administration of the chemotherapy and Mr Lane's death.

"But it seems there is little, if any difference, between those who take it at 100 mg-per-square-metre and those who take it at 75 mg, which might be a measure of comfort for those ladies who are treated at that level for breast cancer."

During the inquest, consultant medical oncologist Chris Bradley said he had seen breast cancer patients previously prescribed the same dose without the same side-effect. Mr Whittaker said it could be understood how it could then be administered to a prostate cancer sufferer, but he did ask what had been done in light of this and other similar incidents.

Dr Bradley said: "It is something we have discussed at great length in the department, in terms of looking very seriously at the practise which led this to happen.

"It became clear the same mistake was made again and it became clear to us there was a problem with our system.

"In terms of the chemotherapy prescriptions there wasn't previously different breast cancer and prostate cancer prescriptions - there now are for all cancer drugs."

During the inquest the Trust's deputy chief executive and chief nurse Rose Stephens said if the new checks and balances were adhered to the same mistake would not be made again.

The wife and children of Mr Lane, a former driver, heard how Mr Lane was prescribed 100 mg-per-square-metre of Taxotere - while the manufacturer's leaflet recommended 75 mg.

The cause of death given by Mr Whittaker was neutropenia - a blood disease resulting in fewer white blood cells, in this case caused by the administration of the chemotherapy drug.

The hearing was told that Mr Lane had a heart condition that was also a contributory factor in his death.

A spokesman for the Trust said: "We would like to pass on our sincere condolences to Mr Lane's family. The foundation trust accepts the verdict of misadventure."

e-mail: james.rush @bradford.newsquest.co.uk