meningitis after being initially diagnosed with back pain is suing the Bermuda Hospitals Board and the doctor involved.

Angry mum Jody Lynn Hayes launched the writ against Dr. Steven G Trott and BHB yesterday after earlier blasting the hospital for lack of care for her 21-year-old daughter Mia Warren.

Mia had left Memphis, Tennessee, for her aunt's wedding on the Island in May 1997 but on the 28th of that month was admitted to hospital with back pain.

After an X-ray and an examination she went home only to be readmitted two days later.

She died on June 5 with the autopsy later revealing that a quarter of a litre of pus had been drained from her spine and there was an equally large amount in her brain.

Speaking after inquest, which was held last October and which was limited to identifying where, when and how Ms Warren had died, Mia's Bermudian aunt Wanda Ingemann-Simons claimed X-rays, taken upon Ms Warren's arrival at the emergency room, clearly showed the abscess that was responsible for her infection.

She said: "We feel that Mia's life would have been saved if she had received proper medical treatment and routine tests, such as blood work and C.T. scans, upon admission to hospital.'' Dr. Trott had said during the inquest that Mia, who had steel rods inserted in her back after a 1995 road smash, had not shown typical infection signs such as fever, rash or neck stiffness.

Subsequent disorientation, uncontrollable writhing and violent behaviour had then been put down to drug-induced psychosis.

She was then strapped down -- a practice banned in the UK -- with one nurse saying doctors had refused to treat or examine her. She had to call for a psychiatrist who spotted that Mia had a medical problem.

Tests then revealed the abscess which had ruptured around one of the rods.

Intravenous antibiotics were then administered but it was not enough to save her.

Dr. Wilbert Warner, who had been alerted to the case at a late stage, told the inquest that had the real problem been spotted sooner Mia might have lived. Ms Ingemann-Simons said: "Instead of being given proper treatment, they (hospital staff) strapped her to a bed and kept her in a drug stupor.'' "We don't want Mia's death to be in vain. As Bermudians we only have one hospital.

"It needs to be made sure that doctors who have special hospital privileges use the utmost care when it comes to patients.

"We are not a third world country. We do have the facilities to treat people properly.'' She added: "The hospital has a duty to see that rules and regulations are carried out as stated by the BHB. They clearly state blood has to be drawn upon admission. Dr. Trott had five vital days to draw blood.'' Mia Warren HOSPITAL HOS