logo
Doctor describes delay in giving sick baby antibiotics, inquest hears

Doctor describes delay in giving sick baby antibiotics, inquest hears

Yahoo06-02-2025

Antibiotics prescribed for a premature baby suffering with a respiratory illness were not given until after he suffered the first of two cardiac arrests, an inquest heard.
Ben Condon, who was two months old, died at Bristol Children's Hospital in April 2015.
He was being treated in the paediatric intensive care unit for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and metapneumovirus (hMPV) – similar to the common cold in adults.
Avon Coroner's Court heard that on April 17 Ben's condition deteriorated and he suffered two cardiac arrests before dying.
It later emerged that before his death, Ben had also developed a pseudomonas bacterial infection.
The University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the children's hospital, later admitted their failure to give Ben timely antibiotics contributed to his death.
Dr Jessica Spaull, who was a junior doctor on the unit, said she had been concerned about Ben that morning and had discussed this with his parents, Allyn and Jenny Condon.
She told the inquest she had a conversation with a consultant after the mid-morning ward round to give Ben antibiotics.
'I cannot recall any details of what I said but I recall the conclusion was that it would be reasonable to start Ben on antibiotics,' she said.
'I recall I was in the process of doing that (writing up the prescription) when another of my allocated patients… when their endocrinal tube was accidentally removed.
'I recall I went over to that bed in an emergency, and I recall that I was involved reintubating that patient.
'That meant I had not completed that prescription at that point.'
The inquest has heard that Ben, from Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset, suffered the first of two cardiac arrests that afternoon and died later that evening.
Dr Spaull told the hearing that later that day while completing a handover with the medical staff working the evening shift, she realised the antibiotics had not been administered.
'I recall looking at the drug chart and realising that the antibiotic prescribed earlier hadn't been given,' she said.
'I mentioned this to one of the bedside nurses who had attempted help with the resuscitation.
'I recall mentioning to one of the other junior doctors.'
Jennifer MacLeod, representing the Condon family, asked Dr Spaull whether there was a 'general consensus' among doctors that Ben's respiratory illness was caused by a virus, rather than a bacterial infection.
Dr Spaull replied: 'I think this is a really tricky question to answer for me just because, as a junior doctor on paediatric intensive care unit then, I still don't have the expertise to have formulated ideas about ARDS causality because of my lack of experience in that area.'
Ms MacLeod asked whether there was a 'level of complacency' about how poorly Ben was.
Dr Spaull said this question was hard for her to answer as at the time she was a junior doctor only five weeks into her first placement on a paediatric intensive care unit.
'For me, I had heard Ben's parents were worried, and I was worried about Ben's oxygenation in particular that morning,' she said.
'I think I would have judged how worried to be based on the experienced team's assessment.
'I do not think I can comment on the specific question.'
She added: 'I think that while I was not experienced in ARDS, I was able to make an assessment of a patient in intensive care as that was what I had been doing for the past five weeks, but also on a neo-natal intensive care unit prior to that.
'I recall having dialogue about my patients that I was concerned was.
'I think I would have made an assessment, which would have been appropriate for a junior doctor on the unit to make, and I think I would have discussed that assessment with a consultant in an open dialogue because they were present.
'In terms of specifics I can't recall those conversations.'
The inquest continues.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Prehistoric humans may have used fire to smoke meat one million years ago, study suggests
Prehistoric humans may have used fire to smoke meat one million years ago, study suggests

Yahoo

time5 days ago

  • Yahoo

Prehistoric humans may have used fire to smoke meat one million years ago, study suggests

Over time, as the availability of large game declined, humans had to adapt to hunting smaller animals and using fire more consistently. A groundbreaking study by researchers at Tel Aviv University suggests that early humans may have started using fire for a surprising reason: to smoke and preserve meat. According to the study, which was published in Frontiers in Nutrition, this practice could date back as far as one million years. The research, led by Dr. Miki Ben-Dor and Professor Ran Barkai of the university's Department of Archaeology and Ancient Near Eastern Cultures, challenges the long-held assumption that early humans initially used fire primarily for cooking. Instead, the researchers argue that fire served two essential purposes for our ancient ancestors: first, to protect large game from predators and scavengers, and second, to prevent meat from spoiling by smoking and drying it, thus extending its shelf life. 'Fire was a precious resource for early humans, requiring significant effort to gather fuel, ignite, and maintain,' said Dr. Ben-Dor. 'They wouldn't have invested that effort without a strong, energy-efficient reason. Smoking meat was a way to preserve their most important source of calories.' The study focuses on sites dating from 1.8 million to 800,000 years ago, where evidence of fire use has been found. Researchers reviewed nine such sites worldwide, including two in Israel - Gesher Benot Ya'aqov and Evron Quarry -six in Africa, and one in Spain. Intriguingly, all of these sites also contained the remains of large animals such as elephants, hippos, and rhinoceroses, creatures that would have provided a rich and vital source of nutrition for early humans. 'The meat and fat from a single elephant could feed a group of 20 to 30 people for over a month,' explained Prof. Barkai. 'That's an enormous amount of food that needed protection not just from other predators, but also from spoilage.' The study fits into a larger theory developed by Ben-Dor and Barkai that connects many prehistoric phenomena, such as tool use and hunting strategies, to early humans' reliance on large animals for survival. Over time, as the availability of large game declined, humans had to adapt to hunting smaller animals and using fire more consistently. 'Once fire was used to protect and preserve meat, it likely also provided opportunities to cook meat,' Barkai added. 'Cooking could have emerged as a byproduct of this initial use, at no extra energetic cost.' The findings provide a fresh perspective on a question that has long fascinated archaeologists: why did early humans first harness fire? The answer, according to this new research, may lie in the simple need to make the most of a hard-won meal.

Missing Lockport attorney located in Niagara Falls
Missing Lockport attorney located in Niagara Falls

Yahoo

time31-05-2025

  • Yahoo

Missing Lockport attorney located in Niagara Falls

A missing Lockport attorney was located by Niagara County Sheriff's deputies at a Niagara Falls department store on Saturday afternoon. Deputies were called to the store about 3:30 p.m. Saturday to interview Scott Stopa. A release from the sheriff's office about half an hour later said it was determined he was safe. Family members had reported Stopa had not been seen or heard from since Tuesday. 'Our family is extremely concerned for his safety and well-being,' Stopa's sister Jenny told the Gazette Thursday night. 'No one's heard from him and his phone is at his home.' Stopa is a partner at Ben & Stopa Attorneys-at-Law on East Avenue in Lockport. He lives in the Town of Cambria. Stopa's online profile indicates that his legal practice is 'family-law focused.' The profile says Stopa 'represents clients in divorce, custody, paternity, and guardianship proceedings.' He is also described as a 'court-certified' child guardian. Filicetti said Thursday members of his office's Criminal Investigation Bureau had been working on Stopa's disappearance since the missing person's report was first filed.

Missing Lockport attorney located in Niagara Falls
Missing Lockport attorney located in Niagara Falls

Yahoo

time31-05-2025

  • Yahoo

Missing Lockport attorney located in Niagara Falls

A missing Lockport attorney was located by Niagara County Sheriff's deputies at a Niagara Falls department store on Saturday afternoon. Deputies were called to the store about 3:30 p.m. Saturday to interview Scott Stopa. A release from the sheriff's office about half an hour later said it was determined he was safe. Family members had reported Stopa had not been seen or heard from since Tuesday. 'Our family is extremely concerned for his safety and well-being,' Stopa's sister Jenny told the Gazette Thursday night. 'No one's heard from him and his phone is at his home.' Stopa is a partner at Ben & Stopa Attorneys-at-Law on East Avenue in Lockport. He lives in the Town of Cambria. Stopa's online profile indicates that his legal practice is 'family-law focused.' The profile says Stopa 'represents clients in divorce, custody, paternity, and guardianship proceedings.' He is also described as a 'court-certified' child guardian. Filicetti said Thursday members of his office's Criminal Investigation Bureau had been working on Stopa's disappearance since the missing person's report was first filed.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store