A 15-year-old boy’s family claims that delays by hospital staff and paramedics deprived him of critical chances for survival following an allergic reaction. The boy, who was allergic to peanuts and tree nuts, reacted after consuming apple crumble at his grandmother’s home.
“The journey to these coronial findings has taken four-and-a-half years,” stated Dr. McKenzie, expressing the family’s long wait for answers.
“Although not every concern regarding Max’s treatment was resolved today, the coroner determined that Ambulance Victoria should have administered more adrenaline and that intubation should have been performed immediately upon his arrival at Eastern Health Hospital,” Dr. McKenzie explained.
“The absence of these interventions denied Max his best chance at survival,” he emphasized. “Max’s death was preventable.”
“Those two things didn’t happen, and they robbed Max of his best chance of survival.
“Max should not have died.”
Dr McKenzie gave CPR to his son after he was taken to hospital on August 6, which he said should never have happened.
“I should never have had the opportunity to participate in Max’s resuscitation because it should have been done before I got there and I think the coroner has highlighted that today,” he said.
Max’s mother said the hospital told them their care of the 15-year-old was “best practice and today the coroner has told us it wasn’t”, as she asked for a “heartfelt apology” from Eastern Health.
“Max was let down in so many ways, at so many points in time, and the coroner has found two points where Max’s care was not appropriate and not OK,” she said.
Ambulance Victoria and Eastern Health have been contacted for a response.
