
Parents Win Justice After Tragic Death of Son Sent Home Three Times by Hospital
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Heartbroken parents have been awarded a compensation payout following the tragic death of their four-year-old son, Daniel Klosi, who died of sepsis after doctors advised them to “give him Calpol.” The family’s anguish stems from repeated hospital visits where their pleas for a more thorough medical evaluation were dismissed, ultimately leading to Daniel’s untimely death in August 2020.
Daniel’s parents, Lindita Alushi, 44, and Kastriot Klosi, 51, sought medical help at The Royal Free Hospital in Camden, north London, four times during the week before his death. During two of these visits, medical staff sent them home with instructions to administer Calpol and Ibuprofen, despite the parents’ growing concerns about their son’s severe illness.
It wasn’t until the parents brought Daniel to the children’s emergency department twice in one day on April 1, 2023, after waiting four hours in A&E, that he was finally admitted. Tragically, Daniel’s condition had rapidly deteriorated, and he passed away just a few hours later in the early morning, reported by the Mirror.
Investigations revealed that during Daniel’s third hospital visit, medical staff failed to review his medical records or obtain a comprehensive history from his parents. Crucially, no blood tests were ordered, nor were life-saving intravenous antibiotics administered, which could have saved his life. Daniel, who had autism, exhibited “atypical” signs of sepsis, as noted by Coroner Mary Hassell.
She emphasized the need for medical professionals to “pay even more attention than usual” to parents’ concerns about their child’s health. The inquest highlighted that Daniel showed some common signs of sepsis, such as a high temperature and vomiting, but did not appear lethargic.
Coroner Hassell stated, “If intravenous antibiotics had been given to Daniel during his third visit, he would have survived.” This revelation underscores the critical failures in the medical response that led to Daniel’s death, according to the Daily Record.
In response to the tragedy, the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust has issued an apology and agreed to pay the family an undisclosed out-of-court settlement. Peter Landstrom, group chief executive, expressed his remorse, stating, “I am aware that there has been an inquest and the Trust takes the coroner’s conclusions very seriously.
The Trust is truly sorry that the events in the lead-up to Daniel’s death occurred and on behalf of the Trust, and all the staff involved, I would like to apologize unreservedly for the devastating outcome.” Lindita Alushi, a pharmacy assistant and qualified doctor from Albania, shared her profound grief: “Each time we took Daniel to hospital it was because we thought his condition was getting worse.
We asked for tests such as blood tests and X-rays but it felt like our concerns weren’t fully listened to.” She continued, “I’ll never be able to find the words to describe the anger, hurt, and pain we continue to wake with each day following Daniel’s death.”
Paying tribute to her son, Lindita added, “Daniel was such a sweet and adorable little boy. We felt so blessed that he was our son. He brought so much happiness and sunshine to our lives. He didn’t deserve to die like he did because the hospital staff wouldn’t listen to our concerns.”
A spokesperson for Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust stated, “We are deeply sorry that Daniel died while under our care and would like to share our heartfelt condolences with his family and loved ones. Following a thorough investigation, we identified a number of areas for improvement, and measures were taken to immediately address these.”
They further committed to enhancing staff training and raising awareness about sepsis symptoms to prevent such tragedies in the future. Daniel’s tragic death highlights significant shortcomings in the medical system’s response to urgent parental concerns, especially for children with special needs. The compensation awarded to Lindita and Kastriot Klosi serves as a somber reminder of the critical importance of attentive and responsive healthcare.