THE death of an 84-year-old woman is being investigated due to her frequent use of painkillers.

Joan Way died at Royal Berkshire Hospital on April 6 this year after been admitted with abdominal pain.

It was later discovered the Berkshire woman had a gastric perforation but it was considered too risky to perform surgery so she was moved to palliative care where she ultimately passed away.

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A pre-inquest review was opened on Tuesday (June 14) at Berkshire Coroner’s Court due to Ms Way’s ‘prolonged use’ of painkillers which may have caused the gastric perforation.

Assistant coroner Alison McCormick said: “She was not keen is engaging with medical services through her life.

“It seems she had been taking Anadin for three times a day for at least 10 years to address some joint pain without taking any other medication to offset it.

“It’s thought that may be why she suddenly developed gastric perforation.”

A medical cause of death has been given by the hospital as intestinal perforation due to drug induced reasons.

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Ms McCormick said due to consumption of painkillers for a prolonged period of time, the death has an ‘unnatural element’ and therefore a full inquest will need to take place at a later date.