FAMILY SEEKS ANSWERS AFTER CHILD’S DEATH AT PERTH CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL
BY GERARD MAZZA
Family members gathered today outside Perth Children’s Hospital, where one child died last week, and her sister is currently receiving treatment. Credit: Supplied.
An Aboriginal family is seeking answers after the death of a one-year-old child at Perth Children’s Hospital last week.
A GoFundMe page has been started to support the family through its difficult time.
A spokesperson for the family said Charmaine and Cody Yappo first sought medical attention by telephone for their daughter Kailee after she fell ill on Sunday 25 June.
Ms Yappo said her daughter was suffering from vomiting and diarrhoea.
On Monday 26 June, the parents took their daughter to a GP.
The family’s spokesperson said the doctor suspected the girl had tonsillitis and suggested she go on a lactose-free diet.
The next day, the parents took Kailee to Perth Children’s Hospital, where she was rushed to emergency.
On Wednesday 28 June, Kailee passed away.
Mother Charmaine Yappo said her daughter did not receive adequate treatment.
“We’re just devastated that our girl wasn’t looked after properly” she said.
“A bit more work could have been done on our baby.
“She was only one year of age and had plenty of life ahead of her.”
Relative Desmond Blurton said the family had sought further information from WA Health Director General Dr David Russell-Weisz but were yet to receive a response.
“We need answers,” he said.
“We need healing, and that’s the only way. We need to know what happened to our bubba.
“Again, Aboriginal people have become the victims of a racist medical system where a young Aboriginal child, Kailee, rest in Dreamtime, was taken too soon from a young family.”
Mr Blurton said the family were suffering a “double tragedy”, as Kailee’s older sister was receiving treatment in Intensive Care in Perth Children’s Hospital for similar symptoms.
In a statement, WA’s Child and Adolescent Health Service Chief Executive Valerie Jovanovic said: “Firstly, and most importantly, on behalf of the Child and Adolescent Health Service, I express my deepest sympathy to the family at this extremely difficult time.
“Our staff responded immediately when the child presented to the Emergency Department, declaring a code blue, and provided emergency resuscitation care to the child as soon as the family presented.”
Ms Jovanic said this was not a “clinical incident”, meaning the death did not result from the treatment (or lack thereof) the child received at Perth Children’s Hospital.
The cause of death will be determined by the WA State Coroner.