Pictured: Talented translator Polly Ross, 32, who died after suffering drug-induced psychosis
A mother-to-be who took cannabis after developing the same morning sickness condition as the Duchess of Cambridge killed herself after developing a drug-induced psychosis, an inquest heard.
Talented translator Polly Ross, 32, suffered Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG), the condition which saw Kate Middleton rushed to hospital in August while visiting the queen in Aberdeen.
Hull Coroner’s Court in East Yorkshire was told today how a desperate Mrs Ross took cannabis and magic mushrooms in a bid to tackle the severe bouts of sickness.
However in July 2015, just a year after the birth of her second daughter, she died after stepping out in front of a train.
A coroner heard Mrs Ross had developed ‘drug induced psychosis’ after taking cannabis to stop symptoms of HG.
Mrs Ross told her GP, Dr Daniella Malesknasr, she had taken cannabis during her pregnancy after visiting the doctors suffering from post natal depression.
In a letter addressed to Mrs Ross’s psychiatrist, the GP noted ‘the patient’s psychosis had stemmed from illicit drug use, namely cannabis, taken during pregnancy’.
Dr Malesknasr told the hearing: ‘She had told me when she was pregnant with her second child that she was taking cannabis and magic mushrooms to help combat HG during her pregnancy – but she was no longer taking it.’
Talented Polly Ross, 32, suffered the same condition but tried to soothe symptoms herself by taking cannabis and magic mushrooms
Professor Paul Marks, the senior coroner, questioned: ‘And does taking cannabis actual benefit those suffering from HG?.’
The doctor replied: ‘I can’t possibly comment on that.’
Dr Malesknasr said ‘alarm bells were ringing’ after Polly had told her she wanted to commit suicide on February 13, 2015.
Mrs Ross tried to take her life three times with self harm and taking an overdose twice in a three month period
The inquest heard the GP had called in at her home to find her in a psychotic episode and Mrs Ross was sectioned the following month.
By March 18, Dr Malesknasr said Mrs Ross was diagnosed with drug induced psychosis following the amounts of magic mushrooms and cannabis she had been taking.
The GP said she was then given Respiradon to help battle the psychosis.
Mrs Ross tried to take her life three times with self harm and taking an overdose twice in a three month period.
However, the court heard she was remarkably allowed to discharge herself voluntarily following the last attempt to take her own life.
Professor Marks said: ‘So after taking an overdose of 60 paracetamol tablets, Polly was allowed to just leave voluntarily?’
Dr Malesknasr said: ‘I can’t comment on that because it is a hospital matter.’
However, in May 2015 a psychiatrist in the community said that psychosis was no longer a problem and she should come off the anti-psychosis drug Respiradon.
The translator was given help by a crisis team to give her a ‘higher and intense level of support’, but Mrs Ross had refused them entry to her house in Driffield, East Yorkshire.
Mrs Ross died on July 12, 2015, by stepping in front of a train in Hull, East Yorkshire, and ‘death was instant’, Hull Royal Infirmary Consultant Histopathologist Dr Ian Richmond told the hearing.
She had told mental health workers at the women-only care centre at Westlands voluntary care unit in Hull, East Yorkshire, that she was going to the shop.
Mrs Ross died on July 12, 2015, by stepping in front of a train in Hull, East Yorkshire
Mrs Ross’s devastated family feel ‘badly let down’ following the lack of support given to her in her battle with mental health.
A statement from Mrs Ross’s aunt Emma May, who cared for her during her final months, read: ‘With the right guidance, medication and support, Mrs Ross could have made a full recovery.
‘There should be systems in place to protect that life especially because there are so many suicides attempts of post natal women.
‘I cannot understand why she was allowed to leave the hospital unit before she died.
‘Polly clearly said many times that she would kill herself, many months before she did.
‘I feel that she posed a significant risk to herself, did not have sufficient capacity to make decision and more should have been done to protect and care for her.’
Mrs Ross, who ran her own ‘very good’ translation business in Paris, was described as ‘an extremely intelligent lady and very driven in her own ambition’, by Mrs May.
She was also described as ‘frighteningly clever’.
She met her English husband Samuel Ross in 2011 in the French capital and the pair quickly married and had two daughters born in June 2012 and June 2014 respectively.
Mrs Ross suffered HG during pregnancy with both children and had post natal depression following the birth of both children.
The inquest, expected to last three days, continues.
A coroner was told Mrs Ross assured mental health workers at Westlands voluntary care unit in Hull, East Yorkshire, that she was going to the shop before she took her life