The devastated parents of a three-year-old girl are demanding answers after a report revealed their daughter was accidentally given an anti-epileptic drug before she died.
Perth toddler Aliyah Yugovich died unexpectedly in July after contracting the flu following a tonsillectomy.
A preliminary coroner’s report has revealed that Aliyah… The ‘unknown drug’ anticonvulsant Topiramate in her system, which was not registered in any of the three hospitals the toddler had been to before her death.
How and why the drug was given to the toddler remains unknown.
Aliyah’s parents Jessica and Josh Yugovich have expressed their disbelief that their little girl was given an unprescribed drug.
“It should never have happened,” Ms. Yugovich said Seven news.
“I took her to the hospital because I trusted them.
“How are we ever supposed to trust another medical professional again?”
Jessica (pictured left) and Josh Yugovich mourn their three-year-old daughter Aliyah (pictured center)
Topiramate is mainly used preventing seizures in patients with epilepsy and treating migraines, neither of which Aliyah suffered from.
“I want to know what happened,” Ms. Yugovich said.
“I want to know why my three-year-old daughter is dead and why I will never see her grow up.”
Seven News reported that a An independent committee investigating the case on behalf of the Ministry of Health was only informed of the drug finding when the grieving parents informed them.
“Why can’t they share this information with the SAC-1 team,” Mr. Yugovich said.
“Why can’t they work together so that we can find out what happened here in a timely manner and prevent it from happening again?”
Aliyah’s cause of death has not yet been officially determined. The coroner’s findings are expected to be announced before Christmas.
Aliyah underwent tonsillectomy surgery at Perth’s St John of God Murdoch Hospital in Perth’s south on June 28.
Hours later, on Sunday evening, Aliyah was rushed to the Perth Children’s Hospital emergency department after the toddler developed a fever and flu-like symptoms, where she and her mother had to wait four hours to see a doctor.
Aliyah was diagnosed with influenza A and discharged three days later on July 3.
Her condition rapidly deteriorated the next morning after she woke up coughing and vomiting blood.
Paramedics were called to the house and performed CPR for an extended period before Aliyah was rushed to Midland Hospital and put into a coma.
She was then transferred to PCH, where she was placed on life support.
Aliyah died suddenly in July after contracting flu following a routine tonsillectomy at a Perth hospital
Brain scans and an EEG later revealed that Aliyah had no brain activity and her life support was turned off the next morning.
All three hospitals cannot comment on Aliyah’s case while the investigation is ongoing.
It has emerged that Aliyah also received an incorrect intravenous dose of the antibiotic clindamycin during treatment for the flu at PCH.
Aliyah’s medical records state that her parents were never informed of the mistake because they were resting at the time.
The grieving parents claim the only help made available to them was a stack of grief pamphlets left on their doorstep by a government social worker.
“We had to wait three and a half months for an appointment with a grief counselor,” Ms. Yugovich said.
“Those three and a half months are the longest and most torturous wait, trying to learn to live in a world without your daughter.”
A Gofundme as Aliyah’s family described the toddler as beautiful, smart, sassy and so full of life.
“She made everyone laugh and lit up the room,” wrote Tessa Pritchard.
‘Her beautiful face will forever be etched in our memories’
The fundraiser, which is no longer receiving donations after reaching $86,600, said it was seeking financial assistance to allow the Yugovichs to take time off work to grieve and to cover funeral costs.
The couple is setting up a foundation on Aliyah’s behalf to help other grieving families.