A Fatal Accident Inquiry into the death of a Glasgow man who reportedly waited 40 hours for an ambulance is expected to last around a week. A preliminary hearing at Glasgow Sheriff Court on Tuesday set the timeline for the inquiry into Gerard Brown's death in September 2021, with the Lord Advocate ordering the investigation due to "serious public concern."
Gerard Brown, 65, collapsed at his Glasgow home on September 6, 2021. A concierge called for an ambulance after finding him. He died two days later on September 8. The incident occurred during the pandemic.
Inquiry Timeline and Scope
Fiscal Depute Nicole Lewis told the court on Tuesday: «Although this is a discretionary inquiry it will be relatively non-complex. We are looking at 48 hours.» She added: «I don't think it will take more than a week for the actual inquiry.»
The inquiry will focus specifically on call handling and response times by the Scottish Ambulance Service. The Crown will call two expert witnesses. Both the Scottish Ambulance Service and a doctor will be represented at the inquiry.
Sheriff Cameron set a further preliminary hearing for April 16.
Why the Inquiry Was Ordered
Andy Shanks, Procurator Fiscal for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, explained the decision: «The death of Gerard Brown occurred in circumstances giving rise to serious public concern and as such the Lord Advocate has decided that a discretionary Fatal Accident Inquiry should be held.»
Fatal Accident Inquiries are inquisitorial proceedings, not criminal trials. Their purpose is to determine the cause of death, establish the circumstances, and identify whether any reasonable precautions could prevent similar deaths in the future.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
