Content warning: Some readers may find this story distressing.
The death of a Melbourne toddler has raised concerns around the current state of hospital reporting for children at risk of abuse.
The unnamed 22-month-old child died from cardiac arrest but his history of three presentations to emergency rooms has caught the attention of detectives.
The Age is investigating the events surrounding the death after leaked documents suggested the child presented with symptoms that may have indicated sexual abuse.
The paper said there were no interventions or formal reports made even though two of his presentations had him with ‘intimate swelling and bruising’.
The hospital’s forensic team were said to have been involved after his second last presentation but there was no report made by the Department of Human Services.
Top Comments
Cardiac arrest isn't exactly a medical diagnosis. It is just another term for death. Literally means "heart stopped". It's very unlikely that it was a spontaneous occurrence in this case. The term "heart attack", which is often used interchangeably with "cardiac arrest" does not mean the same thing at all.
This child did not die from a heart condition, as the article seems to suggest. His heart stopped after unspeakable abuse.
Intimate bruising and swelling in a small child? Shouldn't that be a immediate red flag and the involvement of FACS? I fail to see how that would not warrant the child being held in hospital until authorities have an explanation. Perhaps that should be mandatory procedure?