Baby ‘would have lived’ but for hospital infection

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Baby ‘would have lived’ but for hospital infection

A fatal accident inquiry (FAI) has heard that a doctor told the father of a baby girl that she would have lived if she had not caught an infection in hospital.

Sophia Smith died at Glasgow’s Royal Hospital for Children on 11 April 2017 after contracting an infection similar to MRSA, which developed into sepsis.

Police previously carried out an investigation into her death, alongside other fatalities at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) – including

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, 10, who died after a catheter became infected when she was in remission.

Last January, the lord advocate said it was in the public interest to hold an FAI into Sophia’s death.

Sophia’s father Matthew Smith told the inquiry at Glasgow Sheriff Court that he wanted to know how she got the infection and if it was preventable.

The inquiry heard his daughter, who had Down’s syndrome, was born on 31 March 2017 at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley.

She had breathing issues and it was decided to move her to the Royal Children’s Hospital, which is on the campus of the QEUH in Glasgow.

On admission, her parents Matthew and Theresa were told there was an issue with her heart.

Mr Smith told the inquiry Sophia was gradually improving and doctors had said she was fighting well.

He said he understood his daughter was “out of the death danger zone.” But he said on 10 April – like “a bolt from the blue” – she suddenly deteriorated.

It was then discovered she had a collapsed lung.

Mr Smith said there had been a blackening of part of Sophia’s body and an infection had been discussed.

It was after samples were analysed from Sophia’s post-mortem examination that it was discovered she had contracted MSSA, an aggressive form of MRSA.

The inquiry heard Mrs Smith was informed this could have played a role in her daughter’s death.

Speaking of a meeting with a doctor after Sophia died, Mr Smith told the inquiry: “I remember Theresa asking an opinion if Sophia hadn’t caught the infection in her life, would we have her?”

According to Mr Smith, the doctor said she would have lived a normal Down’s syndrome life.

Mr Smith told the inquiry that he wanted to know how a baby who was progressing well could die within a matter of days or hours from an infection.

Police investigation

Before the inquiry got under way, Sophia’s parents, who live in Inverclyde, said they hoped to finally get an answer as to why their daughter died and if it was preventable.

A statement read out by their lawyer said: “It has been a long road to get to this milestone that we have reached today.

“We are pleased that a fatal accident inquiry has been finally set up and hope that by the end of this process we will know the truth about our daughter and why her life was tragically and heartbreakingly cut short.”

In 2020, a police investigation into Sophia’s death was handed over to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) but a decision was made not to bring criminal charges.

The fatal accident inquiry continues.

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