The parents of an Oxford man who suffers from Downs Syndrome are suing hospital bosses after claiming their son's weight doubled following the prescription of steroids.

Bill and Mary Tutty, of Dora Carr Close, Marston, are suing the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust, alleging negligent treatment of their son Spencer, 25.

In 1990, he developed a skin complaint and was placed on a course of steroid creams.

Steroids were given to Spencer, who also has a life-threatening heart condition, for seven years, and his weight doubled from 10 stone to 20 stone.

His parents say their son's condition improved after they consulted Dr Jane Somerville at the Royal Brompton Hospital in London. She advised that the steroid treatment should cease. Spencer, however, now struggles to get out of bed and is often in pain. The Tuttys fight with the health authority is being closely monitored by Art McConnell, of East St Helen Street, Abingdon, whose nine-year-old daughter Lexie died after being prescribed steroids for a minor eye complaint.

Mr Tutty, 48, said: "It's not just the issue of compensation, which we are claiming for negligence. We also believe Spencer has been treated as a second-class citizen by the medical profession because he has Downs Syndrome."

His wife Mary, 49, who provides constant care for Spencer with her husband, added that they both regularly check on their son during the night because of his shallow breathing.

They are also claiming they were not alerted to a heart defect their son suffered at birth until he was nine.

But they hope they can still bring some joy into his life by taking him on a trip to Florida. They have already visited the United States to check the climate for their son. Mary added: "We are still keeping Spencer's and our dream of going to America alive. Spencer's quality of life may not be as good as it was before but he still loves his life and we love him more than anything in the world."

Mrs Tutty added that when her son is well enough, he loves listening to Elvis Presley and Buddy Holly CDs, or watching his collection of Laurel and Hardy videos.

Last night, Spencer's case was featured on the Channel 4 documentary Access All Areas.

A spokesman for Oxfordshire Health Authority said in a joint statement with Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals: "Spencer Tutty has been treated by the John Radcliffe since childhood and in 1983 the paediatricians confirmed a diagnosis of Eisenmenger's Syndrome, a form of congenital heart disease.

"His parents were warned in 1983 that Spencer would therefore have a decreased life expectancy. He has been under the care of the cardiology department at the John Radlciffe since that date. "In 1991, Spencer was referred to the dermatology department at the Churchill Hospital, with widespread psoriasis and treatment has been provided by the hospital and GPs since then.

"It is regrettable that Mr and Mrs Tutty feel they have cause for complaint about Spencer's treatment in Oxford.

"The treatment which Spencer has received has been designed to provide him with as high a quality of life as possible, despite his disabilities and his severe psoriasis, and has always been discussed in detail with the family.

"His parents were warned by the cardiologists of the dangers of obesity and of the need to follow the hospital care plan and to attend follow-up appointments.

"Other alternatives to steroids were explored but were found to be unacceptable to Spencer and his parents."

When Spencer was seven, he saved his family by alerting them to a fire at their previous home in Fairfax Avenue. Mr and Mrs Tutty have another son Reid, 31.

Story date: Monday 08 March

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