Posted on 03/01/2018 1:32:01 PM PST by nickcarraway
A 5-year-old girl in Newport, Wales, died just hours after a doctor refused to see her because she was late to her appointment, according to the BBC.
The girl's mother, Shanice Clark, has been searching for answers since her daughter, Ellie-May, died from bronchial asthma in 2015, according to the New York Post. Thanks to a coroners inquest into her daughter's death, she was finally given some answers on Monday.
The coroner ruled that Grange Clinic missed the opportunity to provide potentially live-saving treatment to her child, Sky News reports.
Florida woman finds hidden camera in her fan The 5-year-old girl was reportedly not seen by a doctor, despite having an emergency appointment, because it operated a "10-minute rule."
Clark says that she and her daughter arrived only five minutes late because they didn't have a car. She says she warned them she might be late when she called the clinic.
According to the coroner, this was the first time the rule had been enforced in regards to an emergency appointment. Reports also state that Clark was reportedly told to come back in the morning without the doctor even looking at her daughters medical records, which would have shown that the child has a history of asthma.
From the evidence before me, it is not possible for me to determine with certainty whether an earlier intervention would have altered the outcome for Ellie, but nonetheless Ellie should have been seen by a [doctor] that day, and she was let down by the failures in the system, the coroner wrote.
According to the New York Post, Grange Clinic released a statement, saying: Dr. Rowe knows that nothing can be said to Ellie-Mays family to make a difference, but she would like to say how truly sorry she is.
The coroner plans to write a letter to the health board and the clinic in hopes of addressing the tragedy and preventing similar situations in the future. Additionally, a spokesman for Aneurin Bevan University Health Board told BBC it would be "inappropriate to comment whilst we await the coroner's report".
“How many millions must the doctor pay based on her word? “
Probably nothing in the U.K. Just like the V.A. here.
Did you miss where she was 5 minutes late? 5 minutes. I doubt this was an appointment made much ahead of time. It was likely one made when a parent calls up and asks “How soon can you see L, she is sick.” If the mother had a long standing relationship with the clinic I can understand her wanting to go there rather than to casualty (I think that is ER in GB). Also the ER may have not been within walking distance.
But considering the child’s medical history for her not to be seen with the complaint of coughing, shortness of breath, and other symptoms typical of bronchitis was a very wrong call.
She didn't have a car. I didn't see how far it is but she may have had to carry the little girl at least part of the way.
I presume she called, said the kid was sick, they said “We have an opening at 2:40, she said “I’ll come right away, but might be a few minutes late” , they said “OK”, but then turned her away.
That is of course speculation.
Look, I didn’t say the doctor did the right thing, just that the sequence seemed a little strange to me.
I dont know how things are in Britain but I can tell you I have waited more than an hour after my appointment time to see a doctor numerous times.
I dont wait that long. Ill leave. I had an appointment for a physical at 9:00 I checked in at 5 til and they took me right in and back to the little room. Nurse came right in and took temp, etc. 45 minutes later I hadnt heard from anyone and walked out and left. The next day gal called me on the phone and said they were going to have to bill my insurance anyway. I said....if you do Ill bill the doc as a no show. They didnt.
Wow. Yes, that has to be about $$ not about a child dying when readily available life saving treatment could have been administrated but for her being late. I don’t care if it is five minutes or 20 minutes. According to the article the child had a history of asthma. Bronchitis can become a life threatening emergency with those who have such a history. But G-d forbid you muck up the system by not being right on time to get essential medical care.
That is heartbreaking. Why would anyone want to bring that kind of “medical care” to America?
Isn't that an oxymoron? Can I schedule an emergency appointment with the fire department, too, for when my house catches on fire?
-PJ
I doubt this was where appointment times were optional. When you call for a same day app’t (which seems the likely scenario based on the article) you take what you are given.
Did the parent have a nebulizer? Did the parent have steroids? Did the parents have a way of measuring O2? Rate of breathing? Did I miss where mom has a medical degree tucked away in her nightstand?
Thank heavens for a sane answer.
Meth-Heads at the rib shack are a constant problem.
Fair enough.
Recently my wife had a reaction to a cephlasporin drug and was having trouble breathing. I took her straight to the clinic with no appointment, walked up to the desk and told them she was having trouble breathing. We were taken immediately into the clinic for care. Fortunately she did not have to be hospitalized. A breathing treatment, a shot of steroids and observed. She was good to go after this, but no more beta-lactams for her ever.
Even though this was just an offsite clinic of the hospital, there was a crash cart at the ready. If necessary they could have intubated her and then to the hospital for critical care.
Scott White Baylor is our clinic and hospital. They have given us great care over the years.
She'll never do it again!
Perhaps I should be rude to you.
Is that what you are shooting for?
“The coroner plans to write a letter to the health board...”
Well, as long as it is a strongly-worded letter...
It wouldnt be the first time.
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