Posted on 07/30/2010 12:54:21 PM PDT by frithguild
A DESPERATE woman texted photos of herself slowly DYING to her mum as she lay suffering on a hospital bed - being ignored by NHS doctors. Tragic Jo Dowling, 25, sent over forty messages to her mother and best friend including pictures of a deadly rash spreading across her body as her life ebbed away.
The pretty youngster was diagnosed by her family GP with suspected Meningococcal Septicaemia after developing a purple skin rash and low blood pressure last November.
She was rushed to Milton Keynes Hospital where A&E doctors rejected the diagnosis believing instead her illness was a mild infection caused by her Cystic Fibrosis.
Doctors abandoned Jo on a observation ward and gave her headache tablets and fluids as they failed to spot the purple rash spread over her arms, hands and legs.
As the hours passed terrified Jo took photos of her rash on her mobile phone and sent them to her mum and best friend describing her condition as "getting worse".
The meningitis bug left her in septic shock choking and coughing as fluid filled her lungs and she died four hours after her last text message - just 14 hours after arriving at hospital.
Her family yesterday accused the hospital of "neglect" after an inquest at Milton Keynes Coroners' Court heard doctors failed to spot she was suffering 'blood poisoning shock'.
Coroner Tom Osborne criticised the hospital for a "communication breakdown" that led to her death as tragically a simple dose of penicillin and antibiotics would have saved Jo's life.
The inquest heard there were only two doctors on duty to cover the entire hospital the night Jo died.
Devastated mum Sue Christie, 48, of Milton Keynes, a distribution worker, said: "Our doctor knew it was meningitis but when we got to hospital all the care seemed to stop.
"They didn't seem to know what they were meant to do or what meningococcal septicaemia was.
"The hospital was saying it was just an infection. She had a lot of infections with Cystic Fibrosis but never a rash like this.
"I saw her picture messages and the rash was really bad. You couldn't miss them but the nurses did. I thought she was in hospital and with the best people.
"She wasn't given a chance and was left to die without being given any treatment.
"It is so sad as Jo had got through everything with her Cystic Fibrosis and was such a strong girl."
Jo was given penicillin and admitted to hospital at 3.25pm on November 23 last year with a letter from her GP Dr Nessan Carson diagnosing Meningococcal Septicaemia.
Dr Carson listed symptoms as low blood pressure, a raised pulse and a purple rash that would not disappear when pressed with a glass.
The inquest heard locum consultant Dr B. S. Khattak sent Jo for a CT Scan and lumber puncture and results were sent to micro-biology to determine which type of anti-biotics to use.
When the scans showed no traces of meningitis Dr Chris Akubuine, physician in general medicine, refused to continue treating Jo's symptoms with antibiotics.
Instead Dr Akubuine administered headache pills and fluids and left her in the Clinical Decision Unit (CDU) for overnight observations, the inquest heard.
Trainee GP Vivake Roddah failed to keep a written observation record but told the inquest he did not see Jo's purple rash on her hands, arms and legs.
Five nurses also told the two day hearing they did not spot any rash on Jo's body.
As her condition worsened Jo swapped 42 text messages with friends and her mum describing her illness and symptoms.
Just two hours after doctors ruled out meningitis she texted a friend to say "rash is getting worse".
She took around 10 photos of the purple rash on her legs, hands and arms and sent one to her mum complaining her condition was not improving.
Her death was pronounced at 5.20am on November 24 three hours after hospital logs show she was last checked on.
Dad Ivor Dowling, 52, a mechanic, said: "If she had been given antibiotics she would have survived. The hospital failed her.
"The first doctor who saw my daughter did everything he was supposed to do. But after that these doctors and nurses failed to spot her failing vital signs.
"They were obnoxious and arrogant. She was neglected."
Delivering a narrative verdict Deputy Coroner Tom Osborne ruled Jo died from a combination of Meningococcal Septicaemia and Cystic Fibrosis.
He criticised hospital doctors for failing to realise she was in 'blood poisoning shock'.
Mr Osborne said: "As a result of a breakdown in communication the antibiotics was not continued and resulted in lost opportunities to render further medical treatment."
Jo, who was on a waiting list for a lung transplant, occasionally needed a wheelchair to get around after she was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis as a baby.
She worked as a cashier at Great Mills and The Bag Shop, in Milton Keynes, and competed in junior cross country championships as a child.
Her best friend Jess Wales, 20, from Kent, who received the other messages also suffered from cystic fibrosis and died in January shortly after a lung transplant.
A spokesman for Milton Keynes Hospital said: "Following Joanne's unexpected death, the Trust conducted a comprehensive internal investigation to review her care and treatment.
"The findings of the investigation were presented in detail at the inquest today and the recommendations are already being implemented.
"The Trust fully accepts the verdict of the inquest."
Former director Maggie Southcote-Want, 48, revealed a series of shocking incidents at the hospital at an employment tribunal claiming unfair dismissal in May.
Ms Southcote-Want claimed bodies were routinely dumped on the floor of the mortuary fridge and photographs of a car crash victim uploaded to websites, prompting a police inquiry.
She also claimed a locum doctor wrongly analysed dozens of breast cancer biopsies, a leading consultant was suspended for surgical blunders and two employees were caught having sex in the pharmacy during working hours.
The hospital denied the claims.
Oops!
Not if you are a member of the Obama family, member of congress or a government employee...
Donald Berwick, Obastard’s recess appointment to the Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services, LOVES the NHS in Great Britain and wants all Americans to suffer the same fate.
A preview of Obamao care.
“Instead Dr Akubuine administered headache pills and fluids and left her in the Clinical Decision Unit (CDU) for overnight observations, the inquest heard. “
Clinical Decision Unit: Sounds a lot like Death Panel to me!
Obama won’t need death panels. Indifference and incompetence will kill off enough patients to save money that can then go to the care of the government elite and their families.
Donald Berwick would no doubt see this as a success story.
Only a matter of time ping.
P.s. Only they won’t allow texting... It will be stuck somewhere in some legislation. No texting allowed while driving or dying...
This is tragic, but I have to wonder where the family was during these 40 text messages.
Even at Swedish Hospital here in Seattle, with the best health plan available to private sector, non-union peeps, if family or friends do not show up to keep an eye on things pain killers and other meds can be skipped by staff or even inadvertently discontinued by docs.
Ain’t socialized medicine great? I wonder what prevented the parents from getting their daughter the hell out of there. I think by the at least the second email both my wife and I would be transporting our child to competent care. How did the hospital over rule the attending physicians diagnosis? Is this common?
This is so sad.
I have a question. Why wasn’t her Mom there by her side demanding attention be paid to her child. I would have been raise hell. After the first picture, why didn’t she(Mom) stop what she was doing and run to the hospital.
It sounds like she just dropped her off.
Where were the friends who were getting these pictures? Why weren’t they there raising a ruckus?
(The inquest heard there were only two doctors on duty to cover the entire hospital the night Jo died.)
That’s one of the many ways that socialized medicine “bends the cost curve.”
I agree entirely.
I kept wondering and all I could think of was that perhaps her family was in a distant location... I’m not familiar much with UK geography, and not sure if the article mentioned locations.
I have been one of those family members who has seen mistakes made and inadvertent neglect occur for relatives in the hospital as well as in short term nursing home re-hab. (And I’m sure it occurs in long-term nursing home care as well.)
It was bad enough these relatives had advocates present daily (sometimes several times a day) and still mistakes and lack of care took place.
I have seen the future, and it’s not pretty. I don’t have any children and doubt there will be any advocate for me when that day comes.
Sigh.
“Donald Berwick would no doubt see this as a success story.”
Well it’s certainly true they no longer have to worry about paying her medical bills for CF and she won’t be a drain on their public retirement resources.
I thought this quote was illuminating:
“I thought she was in hospital and with the best people.”
They may well have been the best people in NHS. Someday the Brits will learn you get what you pay for.
"We're with the government. Sue us. Dare ya!"
I’ve seen 4 or 5 cases of this in the past. You can watch the little purple bruise blossom before your eyes, it’s one of the most terrifying infections to treat . Even with a young healthy patient and aggressive treatment you only have a 50/50 chance of pulling through.
I heard today that celebrity Obamanoid, Andy Griffith, 84, is going to be pimping Obamacare on TV and telling death panel candidates (seniors) how much they are going to enjoy Obamacare. The money for the pro-Obama ads is coming out of Medicare. Griffith is a turd. It appears that Barney Fife was the smart one after all.
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