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Unlawful killing verdict on baby Prosecutors review baby's death
(30 minutes later)
A verdict of unlawful killing has been returned on a baby who was given a deadly dose of calcium during heart surgery at Bristol Children's Hospital. Police and prosecutors are to re-examine a baby's death after an inquest jury returned a verdict of unlawful killing.
Five-month-old Abbie Hattam from Truro died after undergoing an operation to repair a hole in her heart in May 2005. Five-month-old Abbie Hattam, from Truro, was given a deadly dose of calcium during heart surgery at Bristol Children's Hospital.
The hospital said it accepted the jury's decision and offered its "deepest sympathy" to Abbie's parents. The five-day inquest in Bristol was told a doctor ignored indications calcium levels were abnormally high.
Speaking after hearing the verdict Abbie's parents said: "Nothing will bring Abbie back." The hospital has offered its "deepest sympathy" to Abbie's parents.
A jury at Kings Weston House, Bristol, was unable to reach a unanimous verdict, but the Assistant Avon coroner Brian Whitehouse accepted a majority of eight to one. Baby Abbie was one of twin girls born three months prematurely.
Massive overdoseMassive overdose
In a statement, the United Bristol Healthcare NHS Trust (UBHT) said: "The Trust will now urgently consider the implications of the verdict, with the involvement of the team central to this case. She suffered a string of heart and lung problems and was initially admitted to a special care unit at Treliske Hospital, Cornwall.
"Whilst we acknowledge that it can be no consolation to Mr and Mrs Hattam for their loss, UBHT has thoroughly reviewed its protocols and practice around perfusion." As her condition worsened, she was transferred to Bristol where she underwent a two-stage heart bypass operation.
The Trust also said that it wanted to reassure parents that "this was a tragic, isolated incident" the like of which had never previously occurred within its perfusion service. The jury at the Bristol hearing was told surgeon Ashwinikumar Pawade and perfusionist Richard Downes - the senior medic in charge of the heart-lung machine which keeps patients alive during cardiac bypass - had argued just before the operation began in May 2006.
Baby Abbie had suffered a string of heart and lung problems since being born three months prematurely. Dr Downes was responsible for preparing a drug mixture for the machine.
She was initially admitted to a special care unit at Treliske Hospital, Cornwall, before being transferred to Bristol, where she underwent a two-stage heart bypass operation. The court heard this solution had 10 times more calcium chloride in it than was normal.
Abbie had also caught an MRSA infection during her stay at the hospitals. An expert witness told the jury this level of calcium administered to Abbie during surgery was the reason for her fatal brain damage.
Doctors and pathologists agreed that Abbie was killed by an overdose of calcium - 10 times the normal dose, leading to a massive brain injury. Review the case
The jury at Kings Weston House was unable to reach a unanimous verdict, but the Assistant Avon coroner Brian Whitehouse accepted a majority of eight to one.
After the verdict the United Bristol Healthcare NHS Trust (UBHT) said: "The trust will now urgently consider the implications of the verdict, with the involvement of the team central to this case.
"While we acknowledge that it can be no consolation to Mr and Mrs Hattam for their loss, UBHT has thoroughly reviewed its protocols and practice around perfusion."
The trust also said that it wanted to reassure parents that "this was a tragic, isolated incident" the like of which had never previously occurred within its perfusion service.
The verdict has prompted the police to look again at the case.
Before the inquest, the police carried out an investigation over 13 months into the circumstances of Abbie's death and decided there was no case for a criminal prosecution.
"Following today's verdict we will review this decision in liaison with the CPS," said Det Ch Insp Nigel Woods.
In a statement Abbie's parents said: "Nothing will bring Abbie back.
"All the unanswered questions will make it harder to tell her twin sister Teagan what happened to her."