PCL Lawyers’ Post

Today, the Coroners Court of Victoria published its findings and recommendations from the inquest into the death of 19 month-old Noah Andrew Souvatzis. Noah died from acute meningitis secondary to bacterial infection, following discharge from a regional public hospital and subsequent presentations to other public health services. Prevention opportunities in Noah's case are not the first in recent paediatric coronial decisions to identify the need to ensure sufficient staffing and resourcing of public hospitals and health services. In light of the timing of Noah's death, it was inevitable that the COVID-19 pandemic was pointed to as a factor affecting resourcing and the standard of care. It was identified as such in the findings. That noted, with topical concerns regarding hospital funding, the resource demands on Ambulance Victoria and ongoing challenges in attracting specialists to rural and regional services; the prevention opportunities in coronial decisions from COVID-era deaths should not be dismissed by reference to the pandemic. A further comment of enduring relevance is related to the importance of parent and carer escalation and input in paediatric care. Parental and carer input is a source of information which can contexualise a child's presentation and supplement observations to inform patient assessment and management. The Coroners Court performs vital functions in identifying causes of preventable deaths and fires, making preventative recommendations and documenting measures already implemented. Many of us who act in coronial proceedings find satisfaction not only in protecting an individual party's interests, but also supporting this important and unique role of Coroners. #coroner #inquest #prevention #lawyer PCL Lawyers https://lnkd.in/gJtUjsT6