Harrowing account of Martha Mill's death at 13 in Guardian today

[StaplesCorner]

I don't think there's another thread on this already I did a search, but I think this needs to be widely read - there seems to have been no lack of NHS resources here whatsoever, but consultants' arrogance by the spade; shades of This is Going to Hurt? Every parents' worst nightmare:

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2022/sep/03/13-year-old-daughter-dead-in-five-weeks-hospital-mistakes

@Suzi888 i was thinking of Bodies too - I though that was a horrible/brilliant evocation of how subtle/not so subtle pressure to confirm can be so pervasive and problematic.

So sorry to hear that .

I live near Kings and DD is at school with numerous offspring of Kings consultants & a number of the consultants live in our local community. Trust me when I say that this article has been doing the rounds today. And that the doctors in the article are fairly easily recognisable.

How totally devastating. Poor poor family. I hope the mother realises she is not to blame and finds some peace.

doctors have to have insurance
it is nothing detrimental about it

I agree with you

Kind of wish I hadn’t read the article. It’s haunting me.

This

Doctors don't have enough accountability in this country

For example a pharmacist will easily be struck off for an error. Their governing body is basically regulatory. Doctors are very protected as their body basically acts like a union

That was a very hard read. Martha's mum writes so beautifully that I feel we really "know" Martha. Her anguish is so palpable, and of course she blames herself, because as parents that is what we do.

It is harrowing to read the events that led to Martha's death, and to think that not one doctor really took the time to LISTEN to her parents. I'm sure they heard what they said, but they didn't listen and they didn't act. What a sad and tragic outcome.

Good.

I hope everyone knows who they are and they feel ashamed.

I know we are all randoms but hope Martha’s mum knows how affecting her article is.

I want to say to Martha's mum, this was not your fault. If you are reading this- please understand you're not to blame. I don't think they would have listened to you no matter what you said.

They won't get struck off as the GMC protects them, but a crappy doctor in a private hospital is more likely to be sacked than an NHS one.

I am so sad to read this and it has haunted me as well. What struck me was that the hierarchy seemingly prevented anyone from disagreeing, what would it have cost to have thr PICU outreach person come and look just to be safe. Absolutely not her mother's fault. There was a baby who died in Birmingham a few years ago and her family filmed her struggling to breathe in a desperate attempt to get anyone to listen, to know avail and doctors are protected to the hilt, unlike nurses and other HCP's. Google baby Sanna Birmingham.

Absolutely horrific, in a terrible way I'm grateful you've shared this.

In case of interest here is the Prevention of Future Deaths coroner’s report and Kings’ response: www.judiciary.uk/publications/jonathan-stevens-prevention-of-future-deaths-report/

Sorry this is the linkwww.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-41173699
BABY SADA

My nephew was rushed in when he was a baby, my ds called the gp out and she suspected meningitis so bundled him straight in her car in only his nappy and took him to the hospital. A doctor was waiting and injected him immediately with antibiotics.
Turned out he had meningococcal septicaemia, it nearly killed him but I think those two doctors and their fast action saved his life.

My dad, 61 he collapsed suddenly and was taken to hospital. We knew it was serious he kept losing consciousness in the hospital we were so frightened. They insisted he had a migraine and were sending him home. Night shift decided to keep him in but by the time they scanned him the following day it was obvious he was dying, he was deteriorating the whole time. He had a massive brain bleed and died two days later. We were watching him die and kept on at the staff, but they were losing patience with us. I wish I'd screamed the place down.

This article has really shaken me. I've been tearful all day. That beautiful girl and her family.

Is there data on deaths during and in the aftermath of bank holidays? In comparison to the rest of the year? Does anyone know?

This is heartbreaking.

I thought when I read about the story of Jack Alcock that nothing would be so heartbreaking, but this has truly shocked me. Jack's case was one catastrophic mistake, this is a catalogue of them.

Her mother has written this so beautifully. I dont think I would have the strength in her position.

Adcock, stupid autocorrect.

I think one of the reasons this is so upsetting is because it could literally happen to any one of our children. From the initial random injury on a holiday bike ride to those final moments. Just horrendous. As a society we want to have faith in the emergency services and health services. At the end of the day they’re all that stands between us and life and death. So to have it documented so clearly that actually you can’t trust them, that’s just terrifying for many people who have never experienced that kind of negligence before (as I said upthread I’ve had the misfortune of experiencing terrible things under the NHS).

Being frightened of hospitals is terrifying, because when you’ve been treated terribly you’re actually more scared of going to hospital than you are of dying at home. And that’s the reality for many people who’ve experienced terrible things. Most people who’ve never had that experience have confidence and hope that if they ever need 999 or A and E that things will be okay - or at the very least people will do their best to fix things. But when that’s pulled from under you it’s a very scary place to be.

I just cannot get over how a layperson was able to spot her sepsis and bring it up repeatedly, all the symptoms there, and just be dismissed like that. She literally had every red flag going. It makes me so angry. I could understand if it was something very rare or unusually presenting, but it wasn’t - her mum basically diagnosed her through Google. She must’ve felt so, so unwell the last week of her life 😞 this one will play on my mind for a long time. If her mum is reading this - it is not your fault 💐

This is good to hear