The family of grandmother Catherine Rodger who was killed by a prescription for morphine pain-killing tablets TEN times the correct strength has reacted angrily after the pharmacist escaped with a warning from his professional body.

Sprightly Mrs Rodger 74, died within hours of taking the overstrength morphine. The family’s GP Dr Salahuddin Malik of Downfield Surgery in Dundee wrote the lethal prescription, and pharmacist Andrew Nixon dispensed the massive overdose at the neighbouring Alliance Chemists.

Dr Malik received an official warning from the General Medical Council last year, but The Royal Pharmaceutical Society continued the case against Andrew Nixon, before deciding his fitness to practice was not impaired and giving him an official warning.

Mrs Rodger’s daughter Rena Brady 43, of Stewart’s Lane, Lochee, Dundee said: “I am absolutely disgusted that the man who filled such a lethal prescription got off with just a warning.

“I can’t say it was a huge surprise, as the Doctor got off just as lightly.

“I just wish the Pharmaceutical Society and the GMC had taken the matter much more seriously.

“It’s not as though these two just made someone ill. We lost our Mum because of their carelessness and there is still a gaping hole in our lives.”

“My brothers John, Philip, Tony and I are a very close family, and our Mum was such a huge part of it. She lived in sheltered housing, but she never classed herself as ‘one of the old folk’.”

The family’s solicitor Jayne Crawford of Thompsons Solicitors said: “The family was particularly disappointed that the Royal Pharmaceutical Society didn’t even inform them that the disciplinary hearing was taking place let alone tell them the result.

“In the course of our successful compensation action on behalf of the family we produced evidence from a cardiologist that the Rodger family could have reasonably expected to enjoy their mother’s company for another six year but for the overdose.”