Coroner finds eight-year-old girl's hospital death preventable

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 14 Oct, 05:02 · Archive

An eight-year-old died from heart muscle inflammation after emergency doctors failed to recognise the severity of her condition.

An eight-year-old girl's death from inflammation of the heart muscle was preventable, Victoria's deputy state coroner Paresa Spanos found on Wednesday. Amrita Varshini Lanka presented at Monash Children's Hospital emergency department on 29 April 2022 with two days of stomach pain, nausea and vomiting. Testing ruled out appendicitis, so staff treated her for gastroenteritis.

Early the next morning, Amrita's mother raised concerns that the girl had chest pain and shortness of breath. An electrocardiogram at 3.30am showed abnormalities, and the emergency department registrar Patrick Tan suspected myocarditis. He consulted with a colleague who agreed. However, neither doctor seemed to grasp how serious the condition was. Blood pressure was not measured, though other tests showed elevated lactate indicating deterioration. Dr Tan did not return to check on Amrita until 5.30am, when her condition had worsened significantly.

Amrita suffered a brief cardiac arrest at 7.30am. Staff arranged emergency transfer to the Royal Children's Hospital, but by the time a crew arrived about 8.51am, she had gone into prolonged cardiac arrest. Despite CPR, she could not be resuscitated. In a 2024 inquest, Monash Health admitted that staff had failed to appreciate the seriousness of the girl's condition.

How it is being reported

• Coroner finds girl's hospital death was preventableThe parents of a girl who died in hospital after presenting with a stomach ache have wiped away tears as a coroner released findings into her death.Perth Now · 14 Oct, 04:33
• Coroner finds girl's hospital death was preventableThe parents of a girl who died in hospital after presenting with a stomach ache have wiped away tears as a coroner released findings into her death.The West Australian · 14 Oct, 04:33

In this story: Amrita Varshini Lanka · Satya Tarapureddi · Patrick Tan · Paresa Spanos · Monash Children's Hospital · Royal Children's Hospital · Monash Health · Melbourne

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