 In November 1955, Jack Hullett had been diagnosed by Adams with a bowel obstruction that was probably cancerous, and likely to be fatal, as was later confirmed by a consultant surgeon who operated on Hullett.Something went wrong in the initial operation and Hullett was left in considerable pain, despite a second operation.Hullett's pain continued after his release from hospital, so Adams prescribed high doses of opiate painkillers and barbiturates.