A MEDICAL error leading to a massive overdose may have been responsible for the death of a much-loved lady.

Police are investigating the death of 84-year-old Patricia MacFarlane, of Whinfield Avenue, Dovercourt.

She died at Colchester General Hospital on March 30 and an inquest into her death was opened on Monday.

Coroner’s officer Dean Stratford told the court she took ten times as much Warfarin as needed because her bottle was incorrectly labelled.

She thought she was taking 0.5mg but it was 5mg and thinned her blood to double a level which would be considered dangerous.

She was taken to hospital but died the same day from a brain haemorrhage.

Warfarin helps thin the blood and reduce the risk of clotting but too much can lead to dangerous bleeding.

Most people have an INR rating of about one, warfarin users can have a level of about three but her her level was ten.

Despite receiving emergency Vitamin K treatment, she died.

Essex Coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray said: “This is an ongoing police investigation. It is listed for mention on October 17.

“Hopefully by that time matters will be clearer about where this matter is going.”

Mrs Beasley-Murray also invited her extended family to write in if there was anything they wanted to draw to her attention.