THE trial of two GPs charged with the manslaughter of a 12-year-old boy from Gwent has been told his death was "wholly preventable."

Drs Lindsey Thomas and Joanne Rudling were guilty of a "sin of omission," said prosecuting counsel John Price, in failing to provide and arrange "immediate, direct medical intervention" which could have saved the life of Ryan Morse in December 2012.

Ryan,of Brynithel, near Abertillery, died at home in the early hours of December 8 2012, of what was subsequently found to have been an Addison's Disease crisis.

Addison's Disease is a rare auto-immune condition - especially rare in children - in which antibodies in the body attack, damage and destroy the adrenal glands, which produce hormones that help the workings of the body.

Damage leads to a deficiency in production of adrenaline and the disease is ultimately fatal, but daily steroid treatment enables a sufferer to live a normal life.

Thomas, 42, of Copper Beech Drive, Tredegar, and 46-year-old Rudling, of Blackberry Way, Pontprennau, Cardiff, have each pleaded not guilty to a charge of manslaughter, for the unlawful killing of Ryan Mose by gross negligence.

Rudling has also pleaded not guilty to a charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

The charges stem primarily from the doctors' handling of two telephone consultations with Ryan's mum Carol, one by Dr Thomas on the morning of Friday December 7, and a second by Dr Rudling later that day.

Mr Price told the court that medical records showed that Ryan had been showing symptoms of Addison's Disease since July 2012, notably lethargy, weight loss and darkening of his skin colour around his eyes, mouth and particularly his joints.

His condition went undiagnosed but Mr Price said the complaints against the doctors does not stem from their failure to diagnose Addison's Disease in Ryan.

"But it is alleged that each of them should have recognised that in these telephone calls (on December 7 2012) that his mother was describing what could possibly be a very sick child indeed," said Mr Price.

"More so, a child who was so sick as to be at risk of death if he did not receive prompt medical treatment for whatever it was."

By then, Ryan was delirious, with a high temperature, sickness and diarrhoea, and could not support his own weight.

But neither doctor visited him at home, or arranged for an ambulance to take him to hospital.

"We submit in stark terms that they should have arranged for immediate, direct medical intervention upon receipt of his mum's reports of his condition," said Mr Price.

Proceeding.