Two women doctors 'killed a 12-year-old boy with their negligence after failing to spot he was dying from a rare medical condition and putting his genitals turning black down to puberty'

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Two doctors are accused of the manslaughter of a 12-year-old boy after failing to diagnose that he was suffering from a rare medical condition.

Ryan Morse, from Brynithel in Blaenau Gwent, died on December 8 2012, of Addison's disease.  

Dr Joanne Rudling, 45, and Dr Lindsey Thomas, 42, deny the charges of manslaughter by negligence.

Ryan's mother Carol, 54, made several appointments at Abernant GP Surgery in Abertillery and was on the phone with the doctors 24 hours before his death but they failed to properly diagnose the treatment condition, the court heard.

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Ryan Morse (pictured), from Brynithel in Blaenau Gwent, died on December 8 2012, of Addison's disease

Cardiff Crown Court heard how Ryan's mother became worried with her son's health during the 2012 summer holidays when he complained of a headache, sore throat and aching legs.

She was concerned his skin was 'yellowing' and feared he may have glandular fever. He looked so sickly and discoloured his school friends had nicknamed him 'Teabag'.

A welfare officer at his school, who was asked to look into his regular absences in the months leading up to his death, noted he looked 'thin, grey and gaunt' during a school meeting with his mother. 

The teacher said: 'I noticed that his skin was dark. He looked Indian or Pakistani in race. There wasn't much of him.'

But his condition was not properly diagnosed in the several trips he made to the GPs' surgery.

Dr Joanne Rudling, 45, and Dr Lindsey Thomas, 42, (right) deny the charges of manslaughter by negligence

Ryan was described as being 'fit and healthy' until he started to fell unwell in the three months before his death

Three days before his death, his mother was forced to pick him up from school early as he was 'shaking' after vomiting twice and complaining of feeling 'so ill'.

When he got home, his temperature changed from 'very cold' to 'burning'.

The next day Ryan was 'delirious' and 'talking rubbish' and his anxious mother rang the surgery.

She was put in contact with Dr Thomas who, after hearing his symptoms, told the mother to 'fetch him up' to see her.

But Carol - who has four other children - explained she wasn't able to carry her son and could not bring him in as he 'felt too ill'.  

She made another phone call later that day and spoke to Dr Rudling. The court heard she 'also ignored' signs the schoolboy was dying.

Prosecutor John Price QC said: 'The doctors should have visited Ryan at his home to personally examine him.

'Had that happened it would have confirmed the severity of the situation. They would have seen a very sick child in need of immediate attention.

'Ryan was in fact dying.

'They could have called an ambulance. If they had done as they should, his life would have been saved.'

Dr Joanne Rudling, 45, (left) and Dr Lindsey Thomas, 42, (right) are accused of killing the schoolboy by failing to treat him for a rare medical condition

The court heard Addison's sufferers have symptoms including progressive anaemia, low blood pressure, weakness and discolouration of the skin.

The schoolboy was described as being 'fit and healthy' until he started to feel unwell in the three months prior to his death. He died at his family home on December 8, 2012, a week before he would have turned 13, weighing a little over four stone. 

Dr Thomas, of Tredegar, Gwent, denies one count of manslaughter.

Dr Rudling, of Pontprennau, Cardiff, also denies manslaughter and trying to pervert the course of public justice.

She is accused of making false entries into his medical records two days after his death. She allegedly made the notes to look like they had been entered on the day his mother rang in for a consultation. 

She is also accused of dismissing his discoloured genitals as a sign of 'puberty'.

Ryan's mother told Dr Rudling her son's penis had turned black as his condition worsened, but Dr Rudling is alleged to have played down her concerns 

The GP allegedly changed a description of his penis from 'black' to 'darkened' to hide the severity of his condition.   

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