The suicide of a UK cardiologist shortly after he was prescribed ciprofloxacin highlights that many doctors remain unaware of the link between the antibiotic and suicidal behaviour, a coroner has found.

In a report to the country’s medical regulator, aimed at preventing future deaths, the coroner said Dr Robert Stevenson, a 63-year-old recently retired doctor, had no history of depression or other mental health issues before his death.

In May last year, he was referred to a urologist for possible prostate cancer.

The urologist prescribed him ciprofloxacin to relieve his prostatitis and in preparation for an investigative biopsy, said Martin Fleming, the senior coroner for the West Yorkshire Western Coroner Area.