NANCY Berry was just 16 when she died.

She was prescribed a contraceptive pill called Femodene by her GP because of bad period pains.

Her mother Yvonne, 53, told the News Shopper: "We had discussed it. Our GP did the checks before he prescribed it."

Mrs Berry began to suspect something was wrong when a QC representing Schering Health Care, the company which manufactured Femodene, turned up at the inquest.

Nancy began feeling ill on a night out with friends in January 1995.

Mrs Berry explained: "She went to West Hill Hospital, Dartford, and they told her she was having a panic attack. She went back later coughing blood but they wouldn't admit her."

Eventually Nancy was diagnosed with pneumonia and transferred to Joyce Green Hospital, Dartford.

Mrs Berry said: "Nancy was a healthy girl. I told the hospital there was no way she had pneumonia."

She added a young doctor queried whether Nancy's problems might be due to the contraceptive pill but that idea was dismissed.

Nancy died on January 29, after suffering two heart attacks.

The coroner at her inquest recorded an open verdict.

Mrs Berry said: "What I want from this case is for doctors to start asking the right questions. I feel if I don't speak up for Nancy, who will?"