All Rights Reserved. abc.net.au/news/alex-braes-inquest-findings-health-systems-criticised/101109422 The Deputy State Coroner has criticised a regional hospital's treatment of a boy who was repeatedly sent home before dying from sepsis. In the Sydney metropolitan area, coronial matters are always handled by the State Coroner and Deputy State Coroners (senior coroners) situated at the Lidcombe Forensic Medicine and Coroners Court Complex. The doctor was considering amputating 18-year-old Alex Braes' leg after he went into septic shock in . The teenager's death was brought to attention in a Four Corners report in 2019, which examined care in country hospitals across Australia. It was a horrific outcome and such a young man, only 18 years old.". Inquisitions on prisoners who died in the King's Bench prison are in KB 14. Friday, 2.00am Eighteen-year-old Alex Braes was pronounced dead. "He complained that he might pass out or faint, so his father asked for a pillow," she said. The NSW deputy state coroner criticized Broken Hill Hospital's shortcomings in its treatment of Braes, including its failure to perform vital signs observations at the emergency department. Like that day, she said the nurses were still often very busy and under an awful lot of pressure. Alex Braes, 18, suffered multi-organ failure due to sepsis and died after hospitals either despatched him domestic or refused to admit him. "The only evidence that we have is that Alex had Streptococcus pyogenes grown in his bloodstream and he had septic shock," he said. From February 2022, the Broken Hill RFDS base has funding available for a second plane, along with another locally based pilot and nurse. The clock starts ticking "as soon as they get the first phone call", according to Dr Greenberg. His wife was left sitting on the tarmac of Broken Hill Airport for hours waiting for a plane to come from Sydney to retrieve their 18-year-old dying son. Eighteen-year-old Alex Braes' knee was so painful, he asked his father to take him to Broken Hill Hospital. Ryan found it was potentially dangerous and against NSW Health policy, but a systemic failure that could not be attributed to individual hospital staff. "No-one deserves to lose a child, no one deserves to go through this, and I can't begin to imagine what this is like for you.". Jurors in the murder trial of disbarred South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh heard Monday about autopsy evidence on a day the court also publicly released body camera videos from law enforcement . WALTERBORO, S.C. . His inquest has heard a full set of vital. It can also be seen on . Watch Louise Milligan's investigation on iview. The NSW State Coroner, Teresa OSullivan, has advised the procedures that will apply in relation to the conduct of coronial proceedings at the Lidcombe Forensic Medicine and Coroners Court Complex (FMCCC), for matters listed from 10 October 2022. He was later medically evacuated to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, where he died within an hour of his arrival. Alex Murdaugh called 911 on the evening of June 7, 2021, and said he'd found his son and wife dead when he returned home from a one-hour visit with his mother, who has dementia. The family had to wait several hours for an aircraft to be dispatched from Sydney to collect Alex. a coroner has heard. The inquest also heard the Broken Hill hospital is prevented from transferring patients to Adelaide, despite the SA capital being closer than Sydney. The 18-year-old died about 1am on September 22 soon after landing in Sydney after a prolonged effort to evacuate him from Broken Hill. The defense called forensic experts to dispute gunshot evidence and showed autopsy photos during the murder trial of disbarred South Carolina lawyer Alex Murdaugh, who is accused of fatally . Shefound that Mr Braes'cause of death was multi-organ failure due to sepsis from a group Astreptococcus infection, and that he died as a result of natural causes. A medical student struggled to insert the cannula. asked Ms Edwards. Alex Braes is believed to have died from a type of flesh eating bacteria, known as necrotising fasciitis, after he was turned away three times from Broken Hill Hospital's emergency department in . Alex's father managed to bundle his six-foot-three son into the family's car and drive for a fourth time to the emergency department. She also stressed within the delivery of the inquest's findings that doctors and nurses who attended to Mr Braes in Broken Hill were neither unprofessional or uncaring. Please don't include personal or financial information here, My property was damaged or destroyed in the fires FAQ. The inquest is investigating the treatment the teenager received before he died from a bacterial infection known as Group A Streptococcus (GAS). All the stuff he wanted to do, theyre all memories now.. Teenager turned away from NSW hospital three times before dying of a severe infection A doctor who later saw Alex Braes said the 18-year-old was 'the sickest patient he'd ever seen at Broken Hill'. "We've gone back to the full set of obs (observations) at every triage," she said. But I can say to you that I think of that boy frequently," she said. It took 25 minutes for a wheelchair to be brought out so Alex could be taken from the car into the hospital. Alex Braes presented to Broken Hill Hospital four times over a more than 30 hour period in September 2017 (Noah Schultz-Byard) The second day of hearings heard from Dr David Hooper, who reviewed Alex during his third presentation to the local hospital on September 20, 2017. It was not until his fourth and final presentationmore than 30 hours laterthat vital observations were taken of him and a suspected toenailinfection was identified. Ms Anderson said 'yes' and that the rule was notin place at the hospital any longer. An infectious diseases specialist has told an inquest he was considering amputation to save the life of a gravely ill teenager he was treating at a rural hospital, but that the only option was to fly him elsewhere. "[I] informed him that we had the sickest patient I'd seen since my time in Broken Hill," he said. The high-profile . NSW coroner Elizabeth Ryan also outlined major delays in transferring Alex Braes from Broken Hill to the Sydney hospital where he died. His death has also devastated the clinicians working at Broken Hill. Alex Murdaugh's defence has rested its case after calling a total of 14 witnesses to try to convince jurors he is innocent of the murders of his wife Maggie and son Paul.. The senior nurse who realised Broken Hill teenager Alex Braes was suffering from septic shock has begged for more help for the understaffed and under-resourced country hospital. Now she believes she's being penalised, Australia loses first wicket on day two but still on top in Indore, ADF aircraft, personnel to assist evacuation of hundreds from flooded NT remote communities, Rajwinder Singh expected to be charged with murder of Cairns woman Toyah Cordingley tonight, police say, Watch Australia's economic challenges unfold in five graphs, 'Weight of the dead on my shoulders': Academic breaks down at gay hate deaths inquiry, Girl's thumb replaced with toe after gruesome surgical error, Half-marathon runner dies after broken leg misdiagnosed three times. Mr Braes, 18, died at Sydney's Royal Prince Alfred Hospital on September 22, 2017 after he was flown from Broken Hill. I have found the failure to perform vital signs observations was a serious deficiency in the care provided to Alex, Ryan said in her findings. A hospital in the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) repeatedly sent an 18-year-old boy home before he died from sepsis, officials revealed this week. While Broken Hill Hospital's deficiencies did not cause or contribute to Braes' death, the hospital's administration and the Far West Local Health District downgraded the severity classification of the incident. The investigation, known as a root cause analysis, was completed following complaints by hospital whistleblowers and coincided with the first anniversary of Alexs death. Alex Braes. 00:00. 95 Hits - Ajith May 31, 2022, 7:26 PM. The nurse did not provide the pillow but left her post to go out into the waiting room to check on Alex. "I was gobsmacked that it didn't prompt an investigation straight away," he said. Alex Braes, from Broken Hill died from a deadly flesh-eating diseases in 2017 Inquest into the 18-year-old's sudden death reveals doctors missed vital signs Young man complained of severe pain. "Because it's not good enough in 2019 to have people in the far west of New South Wales having worse health outcomes than people in the city.". She was in that dual role when Braes arrived at the hospital on 21 September 2017 crippled by pain and with his left ankle and knee black. Alex's mother was left standing outside near the airport tarmac for hours as Alex, still back at the hospital, fought for his life. The inquest heard that during that time, Alex was in a wheelchair, John Braes had already reported Alex's knee problem, and they'd already seen a doctor. A traumatised doctor has broken down in tears at an inquest, reflecting on how a relatively well teenager was joking with his father the night before his sudden death. I just think they were trying to grasp the reality of what was facing them and that he was deteriorating very quickly," Mr McLean said. In lieu of an autopsy, a panel of experts determined he had an unusual presentation of a fast-acting, highly lethal infection, the NSW Coroners Court has been told. Alex Braes, 18, died at Sydney's Royal Prince Alfred Hospital about 46 hours after limping into Broken Hill Base Hospital at 3am on September 20, 2017. "This was a seriousand unacceptabledeficiency in his care and it was a missed opportunity to identify his underlying, evolving illness," she said. She noted that there was no realistic possibility that his specific infection could have been identified and successfully treated on September 20, 2017. Mr McLean said. Eighteen-year-old Alex Braes was pronounced dead. Now she believes she's being penalised, Australia loses first wicket on day two but still on top in Indore, ADF aircraft, personnel to assist evacuation of hundreds from flooded NT remote communities, Rajwinder Singh expected to be charged with murder of Cairns woman Toyah Cordingley tonight, police say, Watch Australia's economic challenges unfold in five graphs, 'Weight of the dead on my shoulders': Academic breaks down at gay hate deaths inquiry, Inquest into teen's tragic death from infected toenail resumes, More complaints about Broken Hill Hospital following patient deaths, Inquest begins into teen's death from infected toenail, Outside her tent, next to a popular city walking track, homeless Tasha is past caring what people think. In lieu of an autopsy, a panel of experts determined he had an unusual presentation of a fast-acting, highly lethal infection called invasive group A streptococcal. One matter consistently raised throughout the week's proceedings was a business rule then in place at Broken Hill Hospital when Mr Braes presented there four times in September 2017. In lieu of an autopsy, a panel of experts . A doctor who later saw Alex Braes said the 18-year-old was 'the sickest patient he'd ever seen at Broken Hill' hospital. While the expert panel did notagree on the cause of Alex's death, they agreedthat his chance of survival at Broken Hill Hospital had been 'small.'. "Yes, it would've been very helpful to have such contact with a big centre ICU," he replied, "That you get expertise as early as possible involved.". The coroner Elizabeth Ryan has heard the Royal Flying Doctor Service was not able to evacuate Braes as the trip would have exceeded the flying hours for the pilot available that day. Alex died in the early hours of September 22, 2017, at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, after being transferred from his local hospital. Kelly said she had raised staffing levels with hospital management but was led to believe the departments patient numbers did not warrant an extra nurse. Alex's father called triple zero to ask an ambulance to take his son to hospital, but no ambulance was available. It's just such a tragedy," he said. The group of jurors who will decide Alex Murdaugh's fate visited on Wednesday morning the sprawling Islandton, South Carolina, property where the defendant's wife and son were found fatally shot . The veteran clinician and patient-retrieval specialist, who has 36 years' experience, said he believed, inhindsight and now that he was "aware of the outcome", that there were a number of "ifs" including if Mr Braes had been takento Adelaide instead of Sydney. "We as a medical profession, we as a health service in New South Wales, we failed Alex Braes and we failed his family," he said. Tragically, what worked against Mr Braeswas his overall health and age, the inquest heard. Alex Braes died at Sydney's Royal Prince Alfred Hospital after going to another hospital four times. It recently handed down 44 recommendations to boost the rural medical workforce and improve the standard of care. This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced. The inquiry was launched after an investigation by The Sydney Morning Herald exposed troubling circumstances of three deaths and a series of near-misses at hospitals across western NSW. Labor set a superannuation trap and Dutton immediatelytook the bait, Here's what the super tax changes might mean for you, NT Labor candidate confirms involvement in fatal car crash that led to conviction of driving without due care, Freya is one of 15,000 Australians who must find a new life-saving medication or pay a much higher price, Man who murdered Jay Brogden convicted of contempt of court, Live: Australia loses first wicket on day two but still on top in Indore. CORONIAL LAW - cause and manner of death, underlying cardiac pathology, methamphetamine use, conduct of police officers, execution of arrest warrant Inquest into the disappearance and suspected death of Alexander Stetz Decision of Deputy State Coroner Kennedy Coronial law, cause and manner of death, missing person, police search, dementia She said evidence highlightedthat Mr Braes was effectively refused admission to a South Australian tertiary hospital on September 21, 2017. She described the death of the fitter and turner as almost unbearable to imagine for the family. here. Alex Braes, 18, had significant knee pain when he first presented to Broken Hill Hospital in the early hours of September 20, 2017. Alex finally left the hospital and was put onto the air ambulance which took off with his mother also on board. Broken Hill staff had missed something, but still, no-one did proper observations of Alex. This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced. "I feel heartbroken that I still have my children and that you've lost your boy.". Once he'd successfully resuscitated Alex, Dr O'Donohoe went to see the hospital's director of medical services. Alex Braes. He would follow them to Sydney on a commercial flight. Dr Randall Greenberg on Wednesday spokeat length in the New South Wales Coroner's Court about Mr Braes' condition, and issues thatprevented the RFDS from transferring him to Sydney or Adelaide sooner. "A young man who died, essentially, from an infected toenail, from the consequences of an untreated and very common infection. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work. He revealed all the medical staff "misjudged" Mr Braes, who was "compensating very well" because he was "a young, fit fellow". "I know it was after Alex passed away," she said. Dr. Piazza - Injury and Thrombosis. Updated: 7:51 AM EST Mar 1, 2023. The 18-year-old TAFE student's death was featured in a Four Corners report, which revealed he presented to Broken Hill Hospital's emergency department four times before vital signs observations were administered. Alex was told to go home and come back later that morning for an ultrasound. My first thought was I havent finished obs for him, I havent done anything for him, have I missed something? she told the inquest. Dr O'Donohoe spoke to the Royal Flying Doctor Service at Broken Hill. Dr Hooper, who resigned from his position as a senior visiting medical officer at Broken Hill Hospital two months ago, told the inquest yesterday that Mr Braes' death was a "profound event" in his life. Labor set a superannuation trap and Dutton immediatelytook the bait, Here's what the super tax changes might mean for you, NT Labor candidate confirms involvement in fatal car crash that led to conviction of driving without due care, Freya is one of 15,000 Australians who must find a new life-saving medication or pay a much higher price, Man who murdered Jay Brogden convicted of contempt of court, Live: Australia loses first wicket on day two but still on top in Indore. If they had flown Mr Braes down to Adelaide, the only available pilot would not have been able to return, as their allowed time would have expired. The day's hearing also heard from DrDevinda Arangala, who reviewed Alex during the early hours of September 20, 2017, when the teenager first presented to the hospital with a sore knee. Experts remain divided whether Alex had the type of GAS known as necrotising fasciitis, a flesh-eating bacteria which results in the rapid death of the bodys soft tissue. She said it was likely that Mr Braes' temperature was measured that morning but not his pulse rate,rate of breathing or blood pressure. It is replayed on Tuesday 10th September at 1.00pm and Wednesday 11th at 11.20pm. The inquest heard that the rule stated, in effect, that 'clinical observations of a patient should only be taken if vital signs influenced the assigned triage category a patient had been given.'. 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