Suspected Clinical Negligence prompts Inquest after Teenager dies following Asthma Attack
27/05/2010
Clinical Negligence
A Somerset family has called for an inquest into whether or not clinical negligence occurred during the treatment of their son who died after he suffered a serious asthma attack.
Joshua Cox, who was 13-years-old and from Bridgewater in Somerset, was rushed to Yeovil District Hospital after collapsing at a friend’s house on the 29th October 2009. Medics at the hospital had to resuscitate him and he was transferred to the ITU ward.
Sadly, Joshua died two days later, after his parents, Mark and Lyn, made the heartbreaking decision to turn off his life support after doctors confirmed that Joshua no longer had any brain function.
At the time of Joshua's death there was no inquest or post mortem and his death was recorded as an accident. However, Mark and Lyn have since found out that a confidential meeting discussing the circumstances surrounding his death was held involving Bristol Children’s Hospital consultants, teaching staff from his school and GP's.
Clinical negligence lawyer Julie Lewis, of Irwin Mitchell solicitors, is representing the Cox family. She said: "Mr and Mrs Cox are very angry that, as Joshua's next of kin, they were neither invited to attend the meeting nor provided with minutes of what was discussed.
"Understandably, they have found it incredibly hard to come to terms with Joshua's death.
"We are in the very early stages of investigating what happened to Joshua but there are a number of unanswered questions, in particular regarding the management of his asthma condition and GP care in the two months prior to his death.
"On behalf of the family, I have written to H.M Coroner for West Somerset, asking for him to open an inquest to investigate Joshua's sudden and unexpected death."
Joshua’s mum Lyn Cox, added: "Joshua was well known in the local community. He always took part in the Children's Carnival held in the town every year. He loved taking part and really looked forward to all the rehearsals and the build up to the big day.
"Joshua loved life and didn't deserve to be taken from us at such a young age. His older brother, Sam, has lost his best friend and, we miss him more than words can express.
"We feel we cannot rest until we get answers into the circumstances of his death."
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