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Teen dies of heart attack due to not going to toilet for weeks

An investigation is continuing on the death of Emily Titterington, 16, who died from an apparent heart attack after holding her bowels for several weeks. The coroner determined the cause of death to be an extension of the large bowel which had constricted her chest cavity.

The teenager had a phobia of going to the toilet and would withhold her bowels for weeks at a time. When she died, she had gone eight weeks without a bowel movement, according to The Independent.

Emily’s death, which occurred on February 8, 2013, resurfaced in the news because of an ongoing inquest to investigate the situation. Inquests are conducted when the death of a person has violent, sudden, or unusual circumstances.

Pathologist Dr Amanda Jeffery said the girl’s toilet phobia appeared consistent with a condition known as “stool withholding,” which is seen in young children.

Emily had been diagnosed with mild autism and had bowel problems for most of her life. Doctors were unable to pinpoint the cause of her bowel problems.

The teenager’s life could have been saved with appropriate medical treatment, but she had refused medical examinations.The girl’s doctor Dr Alistair James said that Emily’s mother, Geraldine, 59, had fought with her daughter to get medical help, but the teen refused.

During the night of Emily’s death, the paramedics visited the family home twice. Emily complained of back pain, located between her shoulder blades. The teen refused to go with the paramedics to the hospital.

The paramedics responded to a call at 4 am and found Emily who had collapsed. At that point, the medics tried to resuscitate her, but Emily was declared dead at the hospital.

The inquest is still underway to understand the chain of events leading up to the teen’s death.

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