Radiation overdose girl dies

LONDON, Oct 19 (Reuters) A schoolgirl cancer patient who was given a massive overdose of radiation has died.

Lisa Norris, 16, died at her home in Ayrshire, Scotland, yesterday, surrounded by her family.

In January, she was given 17 overdoses of radiation therapy during treatment for a brain tumour which left her with severe burns to the back of her neck and head.

She had recently undergone treatment to remove fluid from her brain.

Her father Ken, 51, told the Daily Record newspaper: ''She was determined not to give up her fight and she stayed fighting until the end. That's my Lisa.

''She was our inspiration. She kept us going in many ways.'' Human error has been blamed for the overdoses during treatment at Beatson Oncology Centre in Glasgow but an investigation is continuing.

Sir John Arbuthnott, chairman of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde which runs Beatson, said in a statement: ''This is extremely sad news and I have written to the Norris family to convey my condolences on behalf of the whole organisation, especially the staff who cared for her.'' Lisa died after her brain tumour returned, but her father said he was convinced it was the overdoses that ''did this, not the cancer'', the Daily Record reported.

The youngster from Girvan was diagnosed with a brain tumour in October last year.

REUTERS PB HT1510