Eating disorder man refused help.

A YORK man who died of an eating disorder blamed an acne drug for causing the fear of doctors and medication which made him refuse treatment for his condition.

An inquest heard ten doctors and five hospitals were unable to save Jonathan Moir, 23, from the effects of a severe eating disorder caused by obsessive compulsive behaviour.

He died two weeks after his 23rd birthday, after his weight plummeted to five-and-a-half stones.

Jonathan, of Hilbra Avenue, Haxby, had taken the drug Roaccutane in his teens and again during his first year at Manchester University.

He developed stomach pains and depression and was diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome, which he blamed on the drug.

His father, Roger, said: "Jonathan was sure this was the cause of his IBS and depression.

"He thought it had screwed up his life."

In September, 1996, his problems forced him to leave university and he started 14 months of counselling at The Retreat, York, which he stopped because he felt it was not helping.

He was diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder by Dr Robert Adams, a consultant psychiatrist from Bootham Park Hospital, in September. 1998

Dr Adams said: "Jonathan had developed a highly-restrictive diet to control his abdominal pains.

"He didn't think doctors were there to help him and OCD was very clear when I saw him.

"He told me he had bad thoughts and had to go through compulsive routines.

"He had fears that something bad might happen to other people, and unwelcome thoughts about harming other people."

In relation to the Roaccutane, Dr Adams said: "Roaccutane has been known to cause psychological disorders such as depression."

But he also said it was evident Jonathan had always had an obsessional side to his personality.

Because he would not take medication Jonathan could not be treated with antidepressants, usually administered in combination with psychotherapy, and his condition deteriorated.

He spent time in Bootham Park Hospital and York District Hospital, sometimes being tube-fed, in an attempt to increase his weight and was referred to the Maudsley Hospital, London, but was too underweight for admission.

He was admitted to the Priory Hospital, London, where he made good progress until he took a course of antibiotics for a prostate infection and, convinced they were making him worse, lost weight again.

In December 1999 he received treatment at the district hospital and The Retreat after a bout of gastroenteritis but died of a heart attack at the district hospital on December 9.

Recording a verdict of death by natural causes, coroner Donald Coverdale said: "All praise to Jonathan's family who have been so supportive in these desperate times and without whose help I'm sure Jonathan's life would have been shorter still."

PICTURE: Jonathan Moir: restrictve diet to control his pains