Hospital have accused the Bermuda Hospitals Board and a doctor of negligence in the handling of her case.

And speaking on behalf of the family, Bermudian Wanda Ingemann-Simons -- an aunt of the late Mia Warren -- yesterday told The Royal Gazette that they are "seeking further legal action'' in settling the matter.

The statement came after the end of a five-day inquest into the 21-year-old's death during which a Coroner's jury heard evidence from doctors, nurses, family members and friends.

In yesterday's final session, Coroner William Francis ruled that it was not for the jury to decide if anyone bore responsibility for the death.

He said: "It is not your function to say if you think anyone was negligent or careless in this case. There is no evidence to show that Ms Warren was neglected in any way.'' After nearly an hour's deliberation, the four-man, four-woman jury returned a verdict with the simple, hard facts of where Ms Warren died, on what date and of what cause.

An autopsy revealed that the Memphis, Tennessee resident was the victim of staphylococcal meningitis, or a bacterial infection to the outer portion of the brain which, in this case, was caused by the rupture of an abscess that had formed around one of two metal Harrington Rods, inserted into Ms Warren's back after a serious road accident in June, 1995.

The Warren family's statement after hearing the verdict reflected their anger and sadness.

Hospitals Board, doctor accused of negligence "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,'' it stated.

Ms Ingemann-Simons claimed that X-rays, taken upon Ms Warren's arrival at the emergency room, "clearly showed'' the abscess that was responsible for her infection.

"Instead of being given proper treatment, they (hospital staff) strapped her to a bed and kept her in a drug stupor,'' she said.

"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 that blood is to be drawn upon admission.'' Ms Ingemann-Simons also referred to the fact that Ms Warren had been strapped to her bed with a restraint that is prohibited from use by BHB regulations.

The court had heard earlier how Ms Warren's true condition was not discovered until the intervention of psychiatrist Dr. Gareth Smith, who then performed blood tests on her.

"By then it was too late,'' Ms Ingemann-Simons said. "Dr. (Steven) Trott had five vital days to draw blood. He testified that he ruled it out in his head, but you simply cannot do this without the proof to back it up.'' Ms Ingemann-Simons said the family was seeking further legal action against the hospital and Dr. Trott, alleging negligence and breach of hospital policy.

Asked for a reaction to yesterday's verdict, she said:"The verdict should have been `guilty' on the part of Dr. Trott and we think the jury should have been given more choice in making their decision.'' "We know that this hearing was a fact finding mission,'' she added.

"However, we think that if all of the facts had been listened to, the jury would have decided that Mia could have been saved.'' Ms Ingemann-Simons also said the family "would like to thank Dr. Smith and nurse Anita Lewry for selflessly trying to help Mia''.

"We also want to thank our lawyer Michael Smith for devoting so much of his time on such short notice and P.c. Volney Welch for conducting such an excellent investigation,'' she said.