Coroner raps hospital doctors for 'gross failures' over baby

A CORONER yesterday slammed hospital doctors for a series of "gross failures" which led to a baby's death and said he was considering calling in police to investigate possible perjury by professional witnesses.

David Urpeth said he had heard "evasiveness" during the inquest into the death of six-month-old Julia Gujdanoca, who died after being transferred from intensive care to a normal ward because of a bed shortage.

The baby girl, who suffered a heart attack, was stable in Sheffield Children's Hospital before she was transferred in the middle of the night. Nurses begged doctors to reconsider, with senior nurse Bethany West saying: "I have never seen a child cry like that before."

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But it was three and a half hours before the baby was moved and she died in the lift on the way back to intensive care on October 21, 2009.

Mr Urpeth blamed doctors and not the nurses saying: "Having considered the whole of the evidence I am entirely satisfied these failures amount to a gross failure to provide basic medical attention."

He said the transfer was "wholly inappropriate", and said doctors failed to respond to the "obvious and significant distress" of Julia by providing timely medical intervention.

Recording a verdict of death by natural causes contributed to by neglect, Mr Urpeth said: "There was a clear causal link between the gross failures and Julia's death." The coroner said he was "disappointed" by the reluctance of some witnesses to be "as helpful as they could."

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In particular he singled out consultant Dr Anton Mayer whom he said had told less senior colleague Dr Faith Harries to tell the inquest the baby was stable and that the transfer was appropriate.

The coroner was in a meeting with the hospital's chief executive yesterday and Julia's parents are now taking legal advice with a view to suing the hospital trust.

After the hearing, Julia's mother Eva Gujdanoca, 28, and her husband Peter Nistor of Rotherham said they were happy at the outcome.

Mr Nistor, 29, said: "I am waiting for a copy of the verdict and will then take legal advice."

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