Adam’s leukaemia death followed ‘catalogue of errors’

A PROBE into the death of a 14-week-old baby from Mallow whose leukaemia symptoms were put down to colic and constipation has found major shortcomings in his treatment.

For nine weeks, Adam O’Connor’s parents brought him to various health professionals in the hope that someone would be able to tell them why he was in constant agony. Yet the leukaemia diagnosis emerged just two days before he died on February 17, 2009.

The HSE ordered a review of Adam’s treatment while at Cork University Hospital and the resultant report, obtained by TV3, shows that at various times hands-on treatment was left to junior doctors, important symptoms were missed and poor communication between all the health bodies that handled the case.

Last night, Adam’s parents said the HSE had told them there had been a “catalogue of errors”.

In a statement, the health body said it is implementing all of the actions recommended by the review team, “to safeguard patient care”. It also said it had “apologised to the O’Connor family for the upset experienced in the course of their dealings with Cork University Hospital.”