Mom, 34, Has Fatal Reaction to Dye Used for CT Scan

A mom went into anaphylactic shock from the contrast dye used in her CT scan, causing her to die within 90 minutes of its injection.

When Leigh Rodgers, 34, couldn’t get a dentist appointment for a tooth infection, the delay caused the pain in her mouth to spread down to her neck and her chest. Doctors thought the mom from County Durham, England, had Ludwig’s angina — which the Cleveland Clinic explains is a life-threatening bacterial infection, commonly caused by an abscessed tooth.

Doctors ordered a CT scan with an injection of contrast dye to enhance visibility. Leigh went in for the CT scan March 7, 2024 — that’s when she suffered a fatal allergic reaction.

“If she could’ve gotten a dental appointment, she wouldn’t be dead,” said her mother Pam Rodgers, according to The Daily Mail. 

However, The Telegraph says an inquest into her death reported no evidence of Ludwig’s angina on the CT scan results — and Rodgers says the risks of the contrast dye weren’t explained properly to her daughter: “I don’t accept that they [medical staff] were too busy. There’s nothing stopping them from handing out a leaflet to explain the risks [of contrast dye].”

Contrast dyes are generally iodine- or gadolinium-based, Verywell Health explains, adding that while it’s rare for someone to experience a serious allergic reaction, it can be “life-threatening.” Those with diabetes, chronic kidney disease, or heart disease are more likely to experience adverse reactions.

Attempts were made to resuscitate Rodgers when she went into anaphylactic shock, the outlet reports, but were unsuccessful. 

“I want to make people aware of the risks of contrast medium,” her grieving West Auckland, New Zealand mom said. “Every time I close my eyes I imagine my daughter in the coffin.”

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.