Hospital Failings Contributed to Death of 12-Year-Old Girl, Inquest Reveals
In This Article
HIGHLIGHTS
- A 12-year-old girl, Mia Lucas, died after hospital staff failed to diagnose her autoimmune encephalitis, an inquest found.
- Mia was experiencing acute psychosis and was detained under the Mental Health Act at the Becton Centre.
- The inquest revealed that a lumbar puncture, which could have diagnosed her condition, was not performed at Queen's Medical Centre.
- Insufficient communication between hospitals and inadequate risk management at the Becton Centre contributed to Mia's death.
- Mia's mother, Chloe Hayes, expressed deep disappointment over the medical failings and the loss of her daughter.
An inquest has concluded that a series of medical oversights led to the tragic death of 12-year-old Mia Lucas, who took her own life while under psychiatric care. Mia, who was detained under the Mental Health Act, was found dead at the Becton Centre, part of Sheffield Children's Hospital, on January 30, 2024. The jury found that a failure to diagnose her underlying brain disorder, autoimmune encephalitis, possibly contributed to her death.
Missed Diagnosis at Queen's Medical Centre
Mia's ordeal began over Christmas 2023 when she started experiencing hallucinations and hearing voices. Concerned for her safety, her family took her to Queen's Medical Centre (QMC) in Nottingham on New Year's Eve. There, she was diagnosed with an acute psychotic episode and sectioned under the Mental Health Act. Despite undergoing blood tests and an MRI scan, which returned negative results, doctors did not perform a lumbar puncture that might have revealed her rare condition.
Transfer to the Becton Centre
On January 9, Mia was transferred to the Becton Centre, a specialized mental health unit for children. However, the jury found that the information exchanged between QMC and the Becton Centre was inadequate, leading to a false assurance that organic causes had been ruled out. During her stay, Mia attempted self-harm multiple times, but these incidents were not properly documented or communicated, contributing to a failure in managing her risk.
Family's Heartbreak and Hospital's Response
Mia's mother, Chloe Hayes, expressed her devastation, stating, "She was let down at every stage of her care." She criticized the initial dismissal of a physical cause for Mia's psychosis and the subsequent lack of appropriate treatment. Dr. Manjeet Shehmar, Medical Director at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, offered condolences and acknowledged the oversight, stating, "We are truly sorry for not identifying autoimmune encephalitis while she was in our care."
WHAT THIS MIGHT MEAN
The inquest findings highlight significant gaps in the diagnosis and management of rare medical conditions within mental health care settings. Moving forward, hospitals may need to review their protocols for diagnosing complex cases, ensuring comprehensive testing is conducted before ruling out physical causes. The case also underscores the importance of effective communication between medical facilities to prevent similar tragedies. As awareness of autoimmune encephalitis grows, healthcare providers might prioritize training to better recognize and treat such conditions, potentially saving lives in the future.
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Hospital Failings Contributed to Death of 12-Year-Old Girl, Inquest Reveals
In This Article
Maya Singh| Published HIGHLIGHTS
- A 12-year-old girl, Mia Lucas, died after hospital staff failed to diagnose her autoimmune encephalitis, an inquest found.
- Mia was experiencing acute psychosis and was detained under the Mental Health Act at the Becton Centre.
- The inquest revealed that a lumbar puncture, which could have diagnosed her condition, was not performed at Queen's Medical Centre.
- Insufficient communication between hospitals and inadequate risk management at the Becton Centre contributed to Mia's death.
- Mia's mother, Chloe Hayes, expressed deep disappointment over the medical failings and the loss of her daughter.
An inquest has concluded that a series of medical oversights led to the tragic death of 12-year-old Mia Lucas, who took her own life while under psychiatric care. Mia, who was detained under the Mental Health Act, was found dead at the Becton Centre, part of Sheffield Children's Hospital, on January 30, 2024. The jury found that a failure to diagnose her underlying brain disorder, autoimmune encephalitis, possibly contributed to her death.
Missed Diagnosis at Queen's Medical Centre
Mia's ordeal began over Christmas 2023 when she started experiencing hallucinations and hearing voices. Concerned for her safety, her family took her to Queen's Medical Centre (QMC) in Nottingham on New Year's Eve. There, she was diagnosed with an acute psychotic episode and sectioned under the Mental Health Act. Despite undergoing blood tests and an MRI scan, which returned negative results, doctors did not perform a lumbar puncture that might have revealed her rare condition.
Transfer to the Becton Centre
On January 9, Mia was transferred to the Becton Centre, a specialized mental health unit for children. However, the jury found that the information exchanged between QMC and the Becton Centre was inadequate, leading to a false assurance that organic causes had been ruled out. During her stay, Mia attempted self-harm multiple times, but these incidents were not properly documented or communicated, contributing to a failure in managing her risk.
Family's Heartbreak and Hospital's Response
Mia's mother, Chloe Hayes, expressed her devastation, stating, "She was let down at every stage of her care." She criticized the initial dismissal of a physical cause for Mia's psychosis and the subsequent lack of appropriate treatment. Dr. Manjeet Shehmar, Medical Director at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, offered condolences and acknowledged the oversight, stating, "We are truly sorry for not identifying autoimmune encephalitis while she was in our care."
WHAT THIS MIGHT MEAN
The inquest findings highlight significant gaps in the diagnosis and management of rare medical conditions within mental health care settings. Moving forward, hospitals may need to review their protocols for diagnosing complex cases, ensuring comprehensive testing is conducted before ruling out physical causes. The case also underscores the importance of effective communication between medical facilities to prevent similar tragedies. As awareness of autoimmune encephalitis grows, healthcare providers might prioritize training to better recognize and treat such conditions, potentially saving lives in the future.
Images from the Web
Related Articles
NHS Criticized for Ignoring Parental Concerns in Tragic Death of Five-Year-Old Yusuf Nazir
Maternity Services Under Scrutiny Across Multiple UK Hospitals
Nottingham Attack Victims' Families Outraged by Alleged Medical Records Breach
Tragedy Strikes Tumbler Ridge: Nine Dead in One of Canada's Deadliest Mass Shootings
Murder Investigation Launched After Devoted Family Man Dies Following Pub Assault in Leicestershire
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