A simple check could have saved his life—now his family is demanding answers
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Seeking medical treatment is meant to improve lives, not end them—but when something goes wrong, the consequences can be devastating.
What started as a routine procedure at a private hospital soon turned into a heartbreaking ordeal, leaving one family searching for answers.
Now, a grieving widow is taking legal action, determined to hold those responsible accountable.
A widow is taking legal action against a private healthcare provider after her husband died following weight loss surgery.
Philip Morris, 48, passed away in 2021, four days after undergoing a gastric sleeve procedure at Spire St Anthony's Hospital in Surrey.
In February 2024, a coroner ruled that he likely would have survived if a carbon dioxide monitor had been functioning properly.
Mrs Morris said: ‘It’s not right that he went in to improve his health and if things had gone to plan what life would be like now.’
Spire Healthcare accepted the coroner’s findings and stated that steps had been taken to address the issues.
Despite receiving two interim compensation payments last year, Dana Morris, 49, has taken Spire Healthcare to the High Court.
She accused the company of prolonging their suffering by refusing to accept full liability and reach a financial settlement.
She said, ‘We definitely can’t move on to kind of whatever grieving could look like...I don’t feel like we’ve even started that process.’
Court documents obtained by media allege that Spire Healthcare and the medical professionals involved in Mr Morris’ surgery and aftercare provided substandard treatment.
A date for the hearing has not yet been set.
Mr Morris, a founding member and former managing director of Wales Arts Review, lived in Newport before relocating to south London with his family in 2016.
Weighing 22 stone and suffering from type 2 diabetes and sleep apnoea, he opted for private surgery due to lengthy NHS wait times following the COVID-19 pandemic.
After the operation, he experienced severe abdominal pain that made it difficult to breathe and speak.
He was placed in intensive care at a private hospital, where doctors decided to intubate him before transferring him to an NHS facility.
During the four-day inquest in Croydon, it was revealed that the intubation was ‘extremely difficult’ and led to the loss of his airway.
Senior coroner Sarah Ormond-Walshe found that a carbon dioxide monitoring device had not been working correctly, resulting in a ‘missed opportunity’ to establish a new airway.
She concluded that ‘no-one checked that this piece of equipment was working’ because no individual had been assigned responsibility for it.
In a narrative conclusion, she stated that Mr Morris died from complications arising from an emergency procedure performed to address issues following his bariatric surgery.
A year later, Mrs Morris and their 15-year-old son, Orson, have been diagnosed with PTSD, with Orson still requiring counselling.
Mrs Morris said: ‘We feel like we’re trying to bring justice for Phil...Spire’s mistakes cost Phil his life and we will forever suffer those consequences.’
‘Lessons must be learned so this never happens to any other family.’
Spire Healthcare declined to comment on specifics due to ongoing legal proceedings but stated: ‘We apologise for the distress caused by Mr Morris’ death and can confirm that Mrs Morris’ claims are being responded to through the appropriate legal channels.’
In a previous story, we explored how a routine foot massage led to devastating consequences for one man, raising concerns about medical oversight.
How can one massage lead to leg amputation? Read more about her ordeal here.
Do you think private healthcare providers should be held more accountable for patient safety? Share your thoughts in the comments.
What started as a routine procedure at a private hospital soon turned into a heartbreaking ordeal, leaving one family searching for answers.
Now, a grieving widow is taking legal action, determined to hold those responsible accountable.
A widow is taking legal action against a private healthcare provider after her husband died following weight loss surgery.
Philip Morris, 48, passed away in 2021, four days after undergoing a gastric sleeve procedure at Spire St Anthony's Hospital in Surrey.
In February 2024, a coroner ruled that he likely would have survived if a carbon dioxide monitor had been functioning properly.
Mrs Morris said: ‘It’s not right that he went in to improve his health and if things had gone to plan what life would be like now.’
Spire Healthcare accepted the coroner’s findings and stated that steps had been taken to address the issues.
Despite receiving two interim compensation payments last year, Dana Morris, 49, has taken Spire Healthcare to the High Court.
She accused the company of prolonging their suffering by refusing to accept full liability and reach a financial settlement.
She said, ‘We definitely can’t move on to kind of whatever grieving could look like...I don’t feel like we’ve even started that process.’
Court documents obtained by media allege that Spire Healthcare and the medical professionals involved in Mr Morris’ surgery and aftercare provided substandard treatment.
A date for the hearing has not yet been set.
Mr Morris, a founding member and former managing director of Wales Arts Review, lived in Newport before relocating to south London with his family in 2016.
Weighing 22 stone and suffering from type 2 diabetes and sleep apnoea, he opted for private surgery due to lengthy NHS wait times following the COVID-19 pandemic.
After the operation, he experienced severe abdominal pain that made it difficult to breathe and speak.
He was placed in intensive care at a private hospital, where doctors decided to intubate him before transferring him to an NHS facility.
During the four-day inquest in Croydon, it was revealed that the intubation was ‘extremely difficult’ and led to the loss of his airway.
Senior coroner Sarah Ormond-Walshe found that a carbon dioxide monitoring device had not been working correctly, resulting in a ‘missed opportunity’ to establish a new airway.
She concluded that ‘no-one checked that this piece of equipment was working’ because no individual had been assigned responsibility for it.
In a narrative conclusion, she stated that Mr Morris died from complications arising from an emergency procedure performed to address issues following his bariatric surgery.
A year later, Mrs Morris and their 15-year-old son, Orson, have been diagnosed with PTSD, with Orson still requiring counselling.
Mrs Morris said: ‘We feel like we’re trying to bring justice for Phil...Spire’s mistakes cost Phil his life and we will forever suffer those consequences.’
‘Lessons must be learned so this never happens to any other family.’
Spire Healthcare declined to comment on specifics due to ongoing legal proceedings but stated: ‘We apologise for the distress caused by Mr Morris’ death and can confirm that Mrs Morris’ claims are being responded to through the appropriate legal channels.’
In a previous story, we explored how a routine foot massage led to devastating consequences for one man, raising concerns about medical oversight.
How can one massage lead to leg amputation? Read more about her ordeal here.
Do you think private healthcare providers should be held more accountable for patient safety? Share your thoughts in the comments.
