London — We are saddened by the premature death of Dorian Thomson, 41, a former male model and art director whose suicide was blamed on unrelenting dental pain due to EDS.
The Daily Mail reports that Mr. Thompson's orthdontic treatment of six years ago, triggered pain so severe that he was unable to eat or sleep properly.
According to the Daily Mail:
He was in 'more pain than anyone could ever conceive of for about six years', he added, and 'in addition to his tooth ache from every single tooth he suffered from Temporomandibular joint disorder. It meant that there was no support from his jaw and the jaw joint had been worn down.'
By the time of his death, he said, Mr Thomson had become antisocial thanks to 'the onslaught of pain'.
He described his body as feeling like it 'had pins in it' when he walked, which would cause 'grievous amounts of pain'.
He told the inquest Mr Thomson, who turned on the Regent Street Christmas lights in 1999, had spoken about contacting Swiss assisted dying group Dignitas.
'Given the degenerative nature of his condition and the complete lack of help that he was being given, he wanted to know that there was a way out,' said Mr Illingworth.
Recording a verdict of hanging, adding that Mr Thomson killed himself 'while his mind was disturbed', Coroner Dr William Dolman said he was 'a man suffering from a number of serious medical problems.
He had the genetic disorder EDS and the orthodontic treatments had not been successful.
'He was a man in severe, constant pain for many years... He clearly had been a highly successful, outgoing man, but retreated into himself... he had issues with the unsuccessful treatment he had with orthodontics.'
He added: 'This intelligent man knew he had come to the end of his tether. A man with no way out of his predicament but to end his life.'
Mr Illingworth said outside court Mr Thomson had undergone treatment to realign his jaw.
He said: 'The EDS was triggered by orthodontic treatment and when that went wrong the orthodontist dumped him and refused to deal with him anymore. Other orthodontists were refusing to treat him and his condition deteriorated.
'We believe there is systematic failure in the knowledge of EDS. We have to improve knowledge of it and get testing for it before orthodontistry or any form of surgery. That was Dorian's wish, that nobody should ever go through it again.'
His partner of 12 years, Susan Millard, 48, added: 'I want to raise awareness of this. If any person can be prevented from going through what he went through it is worth it.'This story highlights the need for greater awareness within the medical and dental communities to the challenges caused by Ehler-Danlos.
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