00:00A convicted paedophile told a doctor he wanted to be left alone to die in peace after refusing food and
00:06drink at HMP Stafford.
00:09Malcolm Ball, aged 73, had complained of digestive pain and said he'd reached the end of his tether.
00:15Doctors, paramedics and mental health staff repeatedly warned him that his body was shutting down,
00:21but concluded he had capacity to refuse medical treatment.
00:25Ball died in January 2023.
00:27An inquest found he intended to take his own life through food and fluid refusal.
00:33The prison's and probation ombudsman said staff provided compassionate care in challenging circumstances,
00:39although record-keeping and referral procedures could have been improved.
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