Professor's death after leg amputations ruled natural causes
The hearing into the death of former lecturer Stephen Rowan found that concerns raised by his family about aspects of his care did not more than minimally contribute to his death.
Joanna Thompson, sitting at Norfolk Coroner’s Court, heard the 74-year-old had a complex medical history including type 2 diabetes, heart failure, kidney disease, hypertension, neuropathy and autism.
His widow, Jean Rowan, said the couple had moved to assisted living accommodation with a wet room as his mobility declined.
She told the court that despite his health problems he had still been able to walk short distances, and continued to enjoy trips to the cinema, theatre and visits to London.
Mrs Rowan said he was admitted to hospital with heart failure at the end of March 2025 and treatment for excess fluid had initially been successful.
However, she said the treatment led to weight loss and left him weaker and less mobile.
She recalled that on April 19 he had gone out for lunch with family and was still able to shower with help from a carer, but from that point his mobility declined sharply and he became bedbound.
The inquest heard Mr Rowan was later admitted as an emergency patient with pain in his right hip after a fall.
Tests showed raised inflammatory markers,........
