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| Alina Sarag TB death: Neglect 'played part' | Alina Sarag TB death: Neglect 'played part' |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| A teenager from the West Midlands who contracted tuberculosis (TB) died from natural causes but neglect played a part, a coroner has ruled. | A teenager from the West Midlands who contracted tuberculosis (TB) died from natural causes but neglect played a part, a coroner has ruled. |
| Alina Sarag, 15, died last year at Birmingham Children's Hospital despite nine visits to her doctors' surgery and four different hospitals. | |
| Coroner Aiden Cotter said it was a "gross failure" of her GP, Dr Sharad Pandit, not to refer Alina for tests. | Coroner Aiden Cotter said it was a "gross failure" of her GP, Dr Sharad Pandit, not to refer Alina for tests. |
| Alina's parents have said they intend to take legal action. | |
| The five-day inquest, which opened last month, heard health professionals told the teenager she may have bulimia. | |
| A review into her care identified missed opportunities to diagnose her condition, the inquest also heard. | |
| Mr Cotter said: "A diagnosis should have been made and treatment should have been started. | Mr Cotter said: "A diagnosis should have been made and treatment should have been started. |
| "I am satisfied that the failure to take action did have a direct causal connection to Alina's death. | |
| "At the very latest that referral should have been made on 8 December 2010. [The GP] should have ensured tests were carried out." | |
| 'Failed' by professionals | |
| Alina's father Sultan Sarag has described the care she received as "atrocious" and said not enough was done by medical professionals to prevent her death. | Alina's father Sultan Sarag has described the care she received as "atrocious" and said not enough was done by medical professionals to prevent her death. |
| Speaking on behalf of Alina's family, solicitor Thomas Riis-Bristow said: "Alina's family reached out to the medical profession and we feel that she was sadly failed throughout this time. | |
| "The family are devastated by their loss and deeply saddened to learn that the death could have been avoided and that medical care could have treated her TB." | |
| Alina had been treated in 2009 for TB which she is thought to have contracted from a fellow pupil at Golden Hillock School in Birmingham. |