An external investigation has been launched into a Queensland hospital’s treatment of a baby suffering from a potentially life-threatening skin infection.
Key points:
- The baby, then six months old, was misdiagnosed and not admitted to the hospital
- His condition was only diagnosed after his father used Ryan’s Rule
- This is a Queensland Health option to demand a second opinion
Health Minister Shannon Fentiman today revealed the investigation was underway into the case where a six-month-old child was misdiagnosed and not admitted to the Caboolture Hospital last October, despite suffering from a highly painful staphylococcus scalded syndrome infection.
Senior staff later apologised to the child’s parents after his condition was only diagnosed when his father used Ryan’s Rule – a Queensland Health option to demand a second opinion.
Ms Fentiman said external clinicians were undertaking the review.
“It’s really important that there are independent investigations by clinicians,” she said.
“We will always take the advice of our senior clinicians and I look forward to receiving those recommendations.”
‘Listen to the parents’
The child’s family said it was unaware of any investigations going on into the case.
“Nobody has contacted us,” the child’s grandfather Terry McDaniel said.
“We thought the matter had been investigated already.”
Mr McDaniel said he hoped the review examined why his grandson had been sent home after the second visit to the hospital.
“He was so sick. People need to know they have a right to question the doctor’s diagnosis,” he said.
“My grandson could have a permanent injury out of this.
“I want doctors and nurses to listen to the parents because they know there children better than anybody.”
The parents twice tried to have the six-month-old child admitted to Caboolture Hospital but were turned away.
On one visit they waited about six hours before seeing a doctor who then told them to come back the next morning, after carrying out an ultrasound on the child, who was in severe pain.