Dead child had congenital bowel problem, inquest hears

A TWO-year-old child with a previously undiagnosed congenital bowel problem died just over 24 hours after developing severe stomach pains, an inquest heard yesterday.

The child’s mother, Sharon Canny, of Plunkett Drive, Kilkishen, Co Clare, complained that she had never received any warning about the potentially fatal condition of her daughter, Shannon.

Paul Tuohy, solicitor for the Canny family, said her parents were concerned that earlier intervention by medics might have saved her life. However, the inquest into Shannon’s death heard medical evidence that her condition was undetectable at birth and could only be diagnosed with the onset of symptoms.

Dublin Coroner’s Court was told that 80% to 90% of people like Shannon, who had a twisted bowel which cut off its own blood supply, did not survive.

Ms Canny, a mother of four other children including Shannon’s twin, told the inquest her daughter was a healthy child who only suffered from constipation prior to falling seriously ill with severe stomach pains in the early hours of January 6, 2005.

“I knew from her face there was something awful wrong. She had the fear of God on her,” said Ms Canny. She said her daughter’s lips had turned blue by the time she had brought her to the Mid-West Regional Hospital in Limerick.

Ms Canny also expressed concern about the lack of information provided by doctors who attended her daughter at the hospital and that nobody had told her that Shannon required an operation.

Dr Roy Philip, consultant paediatrician at the Mid-West Regional Hospital, said Shannon had suffered four cardiac arrests while being treated.

He also acknowledged that she had probably suffered irreversible brain damage, as medics attempted to stabilise her before arranging a transfer to Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin, Dublin.

The inquest heard that one doctor had written a note which read: “Death in transfer likely but no chance if stays here.” Prof Pierce Grace, a consultant surgeon at the Mid-West Regional Hospital, said he had to remove part of Shannon’s bowel during an operation because it had become gangrenous. Cross-examined by Mr Tuohy, he said that Shannon had little chance of survival given her condition.

Shannon was pronounced dead on January 7, 2005, after suffering another series of cardiac arrests. Dublin City Coroner Dr Brian Farrell returned a verdict of death by natural causes in light of the medical evidence.

Outside the hearing, Prof Grace said the case highlighted the need for the provision of a paediatric surgical unit outside Dublin.