How one doctor's mistake cost a one-year-old boy his life a day after his mum brought him into hospital and was sent home with paracetamol

  • A 17-month-old boy died due to the doctors failure to recognise a serious illness
  • Troy Almond was discharged from a hospital in NSW a day before he died
  • A coroner has found that the little boy's death could have been prevented

By Kelsey Wilkie For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 17:36 EST, 3 December 2018 | Updated: 18:16 EST, 3 December 2018

A doctor's failure to recognise and treat a serious illness led to the death of a 'beautiful and happy' 17-month-old boy.

Troy Almond had been discharged from Shoalhaven Hospital in Nowra, New South Wales, less than 24 hours before he died on March 22, 2016.

A coroner has found that the little boy's death could have been prevented if the emergency department doctor had recognised, investigated and treated his sepsis.

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Troy Almond had been discharged from Nowra's Shoalhaven Hospital less than 24 hours after he died on March 22, 2016

Troy Almond had been discharged from Nowra's Shoalhaven Hospital less than 24 hours after he died on March 22, 2016

Sepsis is a life-threatening illness caused by the body's response to an infection.

Instead of being treated, when Troy's mother Kim Macklin brought her young son into the hospital, doctor Babak Tajvidi diagnosed him with a general virus.

Dr Tajvidi recommended giving Troy paracetamol and sent home.

The small boy already had a temperature, fast heartbeat and was pale before he developed a rash on his body three hours after being discharged.

He was rushed back to hospital where he later died.

During the coronial inquest held this week deputy state coroner Teresa O'Sullivan praised Troy's parents for their 'dignity and patience.'

A coroner has found that the little boy's death could have been prevented if the emergency department doctor had recognised, investigated and treated the sepsis infection

A coroner has found that the little boy's death could have been prevented if the emergency department doctor had recognised, investigated and treated the sepsis infection

Outside of court, Ms Macklin (pictured) told reporters Troy's death had been a 'terrible loss for all of us'

Outside of court, Ms Macklin (pictured) told reporters Troy's death had been a 'terrible loss for all of us'

She did not offer any recommendations as the hospital has made sufficient changes to its policies since Troy's death.

Brad Scotcher, the acting director of nursing for the Illawarra and Shoalhaven Health District, told the ABC, they had put systems in place to make sure their staff are well trained to look after children who present with sepsis.

He said they will work harder to identify, manage the infection early. 

Outside of court, Ms Macklin told reporters Troy's death had been a 'terrible loss for all of us'.

'Troy was a really bright beautiful happy outgoing little boy,' she said. 

WHAT IS SEPSIS? 

Sepsis is a life-threatening illness caused by your body’s response to an infection. 

Your immune system protects you from many illnesses and infections, but it’s also possible for it to go into overdrive in response to an infection. 

Organ failure and death are more likely if sepsis is not recognised early and not treated promptly. 

Source: Australian Sepsis Network 

 

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Small boy died from doctor's failure to recognise his serious illness

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