Second routine operation ends in tragedy
07/05/2002
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Media coverage has this morning highlighted the tragic death of two-year old Crawford Roney. Alexander Harris Solicitors are able to confirm that this is not the first tragedy to occur following the use of disposable surgical instruments. 33 year old Elaine Basham from East Cleveland, died five months after Crawford in November 2001, after surgeons using the controversial diathermy forceps were unable to staunch bleeding following a routine operation to remove her tonsils and adenoids. Her parents were devastated to learn of this second tragedy, but want to know why alarm bells didn't ring following the death of Crawford Roney, as their daughter could still be alive today if they had been withdrawn immediately. Mr Basham has said: ' I was devastated when I saw Crawford in the papers this morning, it has brought back the anger and upset my family felt following Elaine's death. The equipment has since been withdrawn but it was too late for our daughter. I believe there was a warning a week before Elaine had her operation, highlighting concerns about the forceps, but these were ignored, resulting in a tragedy.'
Nicholas Holmes, the solicitor representing the Basham family has this morning expressed his concern: ' The Department of Health should have investigated the concerns over the equipment after the first death. It seems that we are again being faced with a tragedy that could have been prevented. Procedures must be changed where equipment has failed once to incorporate an immediate ban until a through investigation has been carried out which will ensure there are no second failures.'
May 04, 2002 THE TIMES
Parents ask why son died after surgery
By Nigel Hawkes
CRAWFORD RONEY was a healthy toddler when he went into the private Alexandra Hospital in Cheadle, Cheshire, for a tonsil and adenoids operation last June. Surgeons there were following a directive issued in January by the health department requiring them to use disposable instruments because of the worries over vCJD.
The inquest into the toddler's death, held two weeks ago in Macclesfield, found that the boy had died from inhalation of blood after a haemorrhage. The coroner recorded that he had died from "an adverse reaction to necessary medical treatment".
His mother, Margaret, said: "I'm 43, and he was our only child. We were never advised there was any risk. We're not vengeful, just overwhelmed that our child could die. We want a public inquiry to find out what happened, and why."
Her husband Peter says the number of haemorrhages reported after the new instruments were introduced is "too much of a coincidence".
"We have a lot of questions. What preparations were made to make sure the instruments were safe? How many adverse incidents were there? And how many died? Some surgeons have said to us that there were serious problems of quality with the instruments, but if so, was it across the board or only with certain manufacturers?" A spokeswoman for the hospital said: "We are deeply saddened by the death but are unable to discuss it for reasons of patient confidentiality. The death of a child is always tragic and our thoughts are with the parents as they grieve for their son."
There have been 110 deaths from vCJD to the beginning of April this year. Estimates of transmission risk by surgical instruments rely on assumptions about the number carrying the infection, and the efficiency of sterilisation.
The Health Department's Economics and Operational Research Division calculated that at worst, tonsillectomies might contribute one extra case of vCJD for every 900 cases, decreasing sharply if sterilisation efficiency increased even modestly, as the department now believes it has.
Elaine Basham, 33, had Down's syndrome but had become a competitive swimmer. She went into the North Riding Infirmary on 5 November, 2001 for her operation.
Surgeons using the diathermy device were unable to stop the bleeding and Ms Basham suffered cardiac arrests and brain damage. She died on November 15. An inquest has yet to be held.
For further information please contact Claire Treloar on 0161 925 5555
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