Recurance · prevention of future deaths reports
Pre-inquest brief
Unlicensed DNP weight loss drug toxicity
The earlier warning
Anna Phillips · 8 Feb 2017 · Andrew Cox, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly
“[the deceased] took an overdose of a drug called 2,4 Dinitrophenol. This is a compound that | heard is used as an unlicensed weight loss drug”
judiciary.uk/prevention-of-future-death-reports/anna-phillips
What was promised
Stated action 1 · response to Anna Phillips (8 Feb 2017) · stated timescale: none stated
“The NFCU continues to take steps to tackle the marketing and sale of 2,4 dinitrophenol. Owing to the dangers it poses to the public tackling the illegal sale of DNP is one of the unit's highest priorities and will continue to be so. Whilst we have had some success in this area and there are encouraging signs that this is beginning to have a deterrent effect on both suppliers and potential users of the chemical there is still work to be done and we will continue to direct resource at this issue.”
judiciary.uk/…/2017-0033-Response-by-Food-Standard-Agency.pdf
What recurred
- 25 Sept 2020 · Valdotas Gerbutavicius · Nadia Persaud
- 16 Dec 2022 · Jack Knapman · Philip Barlow · Identical hazard · confidence 0.90 (high)
The clearest link, quoted from both reports:
Earlier · Anna Phillips · 8 Feb 2017
“[the deceased] took an overdose of a drug called 2,4 Dinitrophenol. This is a compound that | heard is used as an unlicensed weight loss drug”
Later · Jack Knapman · 16 Dec 2022
“DNP is a highly toxic substance. It should never be used for human consumption. Nevertheless some people do use it to assist with weight loss and body-building.”
What happened next
No evidence found either way · stated action 1
“The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, in partnership with international regulatory and law enforcement agencies, announced that it took action this week against 4,402 websites that illegally sell potentially dangerous, unapproved prescription drugs to U.S. consumers. This effort was part of Operation Pangea IX, the Ninth Annual International Internet Week of Action (IIWA), a global cooperative”
FDA targets unlawful internet sales of illegal prescription medicines during International Operation Pangea IX | FDA · fda.gov/…/fda-targets-unlawful-internet-sales-illegal-prescript…
No evidence found does not mean the action did not happen.