A stabilised schizophrenic who wanted drug treatment for his hepatitis C knew there were risks from it, an inquest has heard.

Kersy Esteven, who was born as Wayne Barker but changed his name, died after a reaction to his treatment that was so rare only ten other cases worldwide had been reported.

Bradford Coroner Roger Whittaker recorded a verdict of misadventure today saying the treatment had been “a lawful procedure which went unexpectedly wrong”.

Mr Esteven, who was 45 and had been living at the Cygnet Hospital in Huddersfield Road, Wyke, had been a patient under the care of Bradford Royal Infirmary taking Ribavirin tablets and getting a injected with Peg interferon. He had been diagnosed with hep C 15 years ago as a result of drug abuse.

He was doing well until he started getting short of breath, the inquest was told.

He was admitted to BRI in September last year where he was put on antibiotics and steroids to counter the reaction. However, despite staff’s efforts a interstitial pneumonitis reaction in Mr Esteven’s lungs was so severe it could not be reversed. It led to pulmonary fibrosis and he died.

The inquest heard Mr Esteven understood the risks which would have included him being told there could be severe complications leading to him becoming severely ill.