Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2016

Max Haigh

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2016-0082, written 1 Mar 2016. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report1 Mar 2016
Reference2016-0082
DeceasedMax Haigh
CoronerPhilip Holden
Coroner areaWest Yorkshire (East)
CategoryChild Death (from 2015) · Hospital Death (Clinical Procedures and medical management) related deaths
Sourcejudiciary.uk record · original PDF
Responses publishednone published

The report

Text recovered by OCR from a scanned PDF. OCR is imperfect: check anything you rely on against the source PDF. Reproduced verbatim, including the scan's own layout.

ANNEX A

REGULATION 28: REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS (1)

NOTE: This form is to be used after an inquest.

REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS
THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO:

1. f Chief Medical Officer, Trust Headquarters, St James’s
University Hospital, Beckett Street, Leeds, LS9 7TF

2.

3

7 | CORONER

| am Philip Anthony Holden, Assistant Coroner for the Coroner area of West Yorkshire
(Eastern)

2 | CORONER'S LEGAL POWERS

| make this report under paragraph 7, Schedule 5, of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009
and regulations 28 and 29 of the Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013.

3 | INVESTIGATION and INQUEST

On 24" June 2013 an investigation into the death of Max James Haigh was
commenced. The investigation concluded at the end of the Inquest on 5" February
2016. The conclusion of the Inquest was a Narrative Conclusion, the medical cause of
death being 1(a) Multiorgan failure (due to heart failure), (b) Cardiomegaly with
myocardial fibrosis and lymphocytic myocarditis and (2) Previous cardiac surgery for
complex congenital cardiac anomaly and pulmonary regurgitation.

4 | CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH

1. Max Haigh was born 11" April 2012.

2. He had a complicated cardiac defect, including a doubie outlet right ventricular
septal defect, pulmonary stenosis and a left sided superior vena cava to the left
atrium. On 18" March 2013 he underwent surgery and an unsuccessful attempt
was made to perform a double ventricular repair. (In the event a pulmonary
band was fitted). The surgery was performed competently.

3. He was discharged from hospital on the 11" April 2013 and his subsequent
recovery was unremarkable before he presented to hospital on the 9" June
2013 with a history of vomiting and being unwell.

4. He remained in hospital until the 12 June 2013 when his condition deteriorated.
Attempts at resuscitation were unsuccessful and death was pronounced at 2310
hours on 12" June 2013.

5. At post mortem significant findings were that he had multiple organ failure, an
enlarged heart (cardiomegaly), myocardial fibrosis and lymphocytic myocarditis.

5 | CORONER’S CONCERNS

During the course of the Inquest the evidence revealed matters giving rise to concern. In
my opinion there is a risk that future deaths will occur unless action is taken. In the
circumstances it is my statutory duty to report to you.

The MATTERS OF CONCERN are as follows. —

(1) Following surgery the surgeon prepared a note of his operation for the medical
records. it was anticipated that Max may, in the future, require further surgery.
The note of the surgery was unsatisfactory and failed to set out:-

(a) The position of the ventricular septal defect (“VSD”) and how it was
enlarged;

(b) A full description of the VSD;

(c) The position of the tricuspid valve;

(d) The techniques that were used by the surgeon himself.

(2) There is a real concern that any other surgeon performing surgery in the future
faced with inadequate surgical notes would be deprived of potentially vital
information to assist in the forthcoming surgery.

ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN

In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and | believe you
[AND/OR your organisation] have the power to take such action.

YOUR RESPONSE

You are under a duty to respond to this report within 56 days of the date of this report,
namely by (26" April 2016). !, the coroner, may extend the period.

Your response must contain details of action taken or proposed to be taken, setting out
the timetable for action. Otherwise you must explain why no action is proposed.

COPIES and PUBLICATION

| have sent a copy of my report to the Chief Coroner and to the following Interested
Persons: EE of Messrs Michelmores Solicitors an of Messrs
DAC Beachcroft LLP Solicitors and to the LOCAL SAFEGUARDING BOARD (where
the deceased was under 18)].

| am also under a duty to send the Chief Coroner a copy of your response.

The Chief Coroner may publish either or both in a complete or redacted or summary
form. He may send a copy of this report to any person who he believes may find it useful
or of interest. You may make representations to me, the coroner, at the time of your
response, about the release or the publication of your response by the Chief Coroner.

[DATE]

1 March 2016 DAVID HINCHLIFF

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