Harold Shipman

Dr Harold Frederick Shipman, known as Fred Shipman to his family (January 14, 1946 – January 13, 2004) was a British general practitioner who was the most prolific known serial killer in British history (and possibly the world).

Aftermath

It is unclear when Shipman started murdering people, or even how many he killed. A report into Shipman's activities submitted in July 2002 concluded that he had killed at least 215 of his patients between 1975 and 1998, during which time he had practised in Todmorden, West Yorkshire (1974-1975) and Hyde, Greater Manchester (1977-1998). Dame Janet Smith, the judge who submitted the report, admitted that many more suspicious deaths could not be definitively ascribed to him. Most of his victims were elderly women in good health.

Related Topics:
July - 2002 - 1975 - 1998 - Todmorden - West Yorkshire - 1974 - Hyde - Greater Manchester - Janet Smith

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In her sixth and final report, issued on 27 January 2005, Dame Janet Smith reported that she believed that Shipman had killed three patients, and she had serious suspicions about four further deaths including that of a four year old girl, during the early stage of his medical career at Pontefract General Hospital, West Yorkshire. Dame Janet concluded that the probable number of Shipman's victims between 1971 and 1998 was 250. In total, 459 people died while under his care. Many cases are unclear because Shipman was often the only person to certify a death. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/4210581.stm

Related Topics:
27 January - 2005 - Pontefract - West Yorkshire

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The Shipman Inquiry also made recommendations about changes to the structure of the General Medical Council. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4081425.stm

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Six doctors, who had signed cremation forms for Shipman's victims were charged with misconduct by the GMC, saying that they should have noticed the pattern betwen Shipman's home visits and deaths. All of these doctors were found not guilty. Shipman's widow, Primrose Shipman, was called to give evidence about two of the deaths during the inquiry. Mrs. Shipman maintained her husband's innocence both before and after prosecution.

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A futher inquiry was held in 2005 into Shipman's suicide. It found that it "could not have been predicted or prevented", but nontheless that procedures should be re-examined. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4182730.stm

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In 2005 it transpired that Shipman may have stolen jewellery from his victims. Over £10,000 worth of jewellery had been found in his wife's jewelry box in 1998, and in March 2005, with Primrose Shipman pressing for it to be returned to her, police appealed to victims to identify it so that it could be returned. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/4357193.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/manchester/4446593.stm Unidentified items were handed to the Asset Recovery Agency in May http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/4574147.stm. In August the investigation ended, with 66 pieces returned to Primrose Shipman and 33 pieces, that Primrose confirmed were not hers, auctioned. The only piece actually returned to a family was a platinum-diamond ring, which the family were able to provide a photograph of as proof of ownership. The proceeds of the auction went to Tameside Victim Support. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/4197812.stm http://www.guardian.co.uk/shipman/0,2759,180816,00.html

Related Topics:
2005 - Jewellery - 1998

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A memorial garden to his victims, called the Garden of Tranquility, opened in Hyde Park in Hyde on July 30, 2005. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/4731119.stm

Related Topics:
July 30 - 2005

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