Lawyer suggests hospital to blame for tot’s death
Doctors who treated a gravely ill Calgary toddler who later died may be responsible for his death, the lawyer for the boy’s father suggested Wednesday.
But Dr. Meagan Mahoney denied medical staff at Alberta Children’s Hospital did anything wrong in the treatment of John Clark.
Defence counsel David Chow, who represents the boy’s father, Jeromie Clark, grilled Mahoney on the child’s care after his Nov. 28, 2013, admission.
Chow focused on the fact the child was given high sodium doses through saline injections as part of his treatment for what doctors believed was a severe infection.
When the boy was first admitted to the hospital, his sodium count was 108 millimoles per litre, far below the normal range of 133 to 145.
The lawyer suggested doctors were increasing the levels at such a high rate it endangered the child’s health.
“You weren’t even contemplating rising his sodium in a healthy way,” Chow said.
“There was no way to do that at that time,” Mahoney said.
“Is the reason you’re taking this position is you have some concerns that the Alberta Children’s Hospital might have significantly contributed to John dying ?” Chow asked.
“No,” Mahoney said.
“So what you’re telling this judge and this jury today, that even though John’s sodium was (raised) to 115 millimoles, up seven millimoles in just 12 minutes, there’s no responsibility on the part of Alberta Children’s Hospital for causing the death of that baby?” Chow said.
“There is not,” Mahoney replied. Jeromie and Jennifer Clark are charged with criminal negligence causing death in the Nov. 29, 2013, demise of 14-month-old John, whom authorities say died of a staph infection related to malnutrition.
Chow said hospital charts show the boy’s sodium levels were increased by 1½ times the daily recommended levels in the child’s first 57 minutes in the hospital, before he had two cardiac arrests.
“You’re saying the Alberta Children’s Hospital, the decisions the doctors made, you have no responsibility for this whatsoever, right?” the lawyer said.
“I’m saying that our priority, it was saving his life and treating his shock, which was his most immediate life-threatening condition, and there was no way to do that without a rise in his serum sodium,” Mahoney said.
Under cross-examination by the boy’s mother’s lawyer, John Phillips, Mahoney said doctors make assumptions based on physical findings.
“It’s really not a surprise medical professionals make mistakes and people die,” Phillips suggested. “That’s correct,” Mahoney said. The couple’s trial continues Thursday.