Road accident victim Patro (Tony) Ford received "immediate, intensive and appropriate'' treatment prior to his death at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

Chief of Staff Jack Patton expressed this opinion yesterday after learning that Mr. Ford's family were considering taking legal action against the hospital and a man involved in the 1996 road fatality.

Speaking after the inquest ended on Thursday, Mr. Ford's brother, Russ, told The Royal Gazette : "We have a lot of unanswered questions still and as a result of that we have sought legal advice on the care that Patro received while in hospital and on the criminal aspect regarding the alleged person involved in his death.'' He added that he believed the hospital needed to conduct an inquiry into his brother's death.

Patro Ford died a few days after his cycle collided with Maurice Junior Harvey's on May 20, 1996.

Mr. Harvey was temporarily knocked unconscious following the incident on North Shore Road, near Shelly Bay. But he was able to flee the scene.

Mr. Harvey first told the court he could not remember the collision and then later refused to answer questions for fear of incriminating himself.

He has been charged with failing to report an injury accident, failing to give his name and address, and failing to stop after an accident.

Coroner Arthur Hodgson, in delivering his ruling, noted that Mr. Harvey "was not able to give much help to the inquest''.

"I've come to the firm conclusion that he was being less helpful than he might have been,'' said Mr. Hodgson who ruled Mr. Ford's death was the result of cerebral edema due to a severe head injury.

But he went on to say that, because the two-cycle collision had taken place on or near the centre line, both riders were apparently at fault.

And Mr. Hodgson said evidence showing Mr. Harvey was impaired at the time of the accident was inconclusive.

Neither Mr. Ford nor Mr. Harvey were given blood alcohol tests on the night of the accident.

During the inquest, the deceased's sister, Patrice Smith, said she believed a seizure Mr. Ford suffered while in the emergency room contributed to his death.

Hospital defends care of patient "At that point we believed he sustained further injuries because he flipped his entire body over with the seizure,'' she said. "And he struck his damaged side on the side railing.'' After the fit her brother was no longer responsive to touch or voices, she added.

In a brief statement issued yesterday, Dr. Patton -- who reviewed Mr. Ford's medical files -- said: "Mr. Patro Ford was admitted to the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital emergency room at 0350 hours, 20th May 1996 following a road traffic accident in which he sustained severe brain injury leading to progressive brain swelling, which in turn caused progressive pressure effects on the brain stem leading to death approximately 72 hours later.

"I have reviewed the clinical record in this case and am satisfied that the hospital treatment was immediate, intensive and appropriate,'' he continued.

"The natural history of traumatic head injury is frequently for a period of confusion or light coma, followed by progressive deepening of coma requiring institution of life support measures such as mechanical ventilation.

"Often despite best efforts death may result from pressure effects on the brain stem, as tragically occurred in this case.''