Boy was left with cerebral palsy at birth, inquiry told

AN INQUIRY at the Medical Council has been told about the devastating effect that cerebral palsy has had on a twoyear-old boy.

Paediatrician Mohammad Ilyas Khan is before a fitness-to-practice inquiry over the birth in June 2012 of the boy, who is referred to as BT.

Dr John Walsh, who is now involved in the care of BT, told the Dublin inquiry yesterday he formally diagnosed the child with evolving cerebral palsy last month.

Dr Walsh said he had found there were possible abnormal signs of cerebral palsy when BT was five months old but these were fairly subtle.

As BT grew, it became apparent that he was experiencing a delay in both his gross motor development, as well as his fine motor skills.

He began to walk just before his second birthday – later than most children – and he continues to walk with a ‘broad-based gait’, or a wide stance, as he remains a little unsteady on his feet.

In terms of language, he has a good understanding of what is said to him ‘but his expressive language is a bit delayed’, said Dr Walsh.

When asked about BT’s future prospects, Dr. Walsh said: ‘It’s impossible to predict, really.’

Retired paediatric expert Dr Kevin Connolly told the inquiry he had reviewed the medical notes on BT’s first few hours after birth at South Tipperary General and said BT was clearly showing signs of subtle seizures.

Dr Connolly said that phenobarbitone – one of the medications given to BT – has not been used as a sedative in the last ten years. He said he did not believe this would have been given for any reason other than to control seizures in BT’s case.

He said the use of a second and third medication indicated the previous drugs were not effective in controlling the seizures and convulsions.

Dr Khan is accused of failing to put into place an adequate treatment plan following the baby’s birth and diagnosis of hypoxia or a lack of oxygen to the brain.

It is claimed he failed to make sufficient arrangements so the baby could receive hypothermic or ‘cooling’ treatment to help the newborn.

The inquiry continues.