'Our 10-year-old died after an operation she didn't need - we demand answers'
The parents of a ten-year-old who died after a series of operations are demanding answers from the hospital.
Dollceanna Carter from Trim, County Meath, had spina bifida and scoliosis. Following multiple procedures she tragically died on September 29 last year but her parents have been left questioning the medical decisions made in the final months of her life.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) described the case as a “serious surgical incident” - and it’s the subject of a Serious Incident Investigation Review, which began last month and involves an external review of 19 children treated at Temple Street Children's Hospital, and the surgeon who treated them all.
All of the children had spina bifida and suffered significantly higher than normal complications following surgery after being operated on by the doctor at the hospital. Concerns had been raised about some complex spinal surgeries, including the high numbers of post-op complications and infections.
The surgeries left an 'unauthorised device' in the youngster's backDollceanna’s heartbroken parents Michael and Bridget were told she died from sepsis after contracting the MRSA bug following the surgeries which took place from May to September last year. This was something they didn't know until an inquest held last month, they told The Irish Mirror.
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"We knew there was an investigation but at the time we didn't know what it meant," said Bridget. "All we want are the answers," they both said, adding Dollceanna had a normal childhood and used a wheelchair.
"She was always out playing with her friends, in and out of our neighbour's homes, she was never sick in her ten years," said Michael, adding Dollceanna was a TikTok diva who was also smart, considerate, and had an answer for everything.
Dollceanna, whose first anniversary of her death is next week, Friday, September 29 first went into Temple Street Children's Hospital in May 2022 for a scoliosis operation which both Michael and Bridget said "went well". Two weeks later she was discharged from hospital and sent home. However, Bridget and Michael said Dollceanna was readmitted to hospital two weeks later with the MRSA bug.
The heartbroken parents said: "We know now she didn't need the operation and if she didn't have it she would be outside now playing away with her friends. We also want to know if our child is one of the children who had the springs put in. There is so much we haven't been told. We want all the answers. We want 100% transparency. If we could turn back time we wouldn't have let Dollceanna have the operation. And we'd rather we didn't have to look for answers and rather have thought Dollceanna did pass away from sepsis."
"We are telling it the way it is," said Michael, and warned other parents whose children require a scoliosis operation to "be careful. If your child is going for the operation, sit down with the consultants and ask about the consequences and the dangers. We can't praise the nurses enough in Temple Street, they are angels but we have lost all trust in the hospital. Our confidence is broken," they said.
Children's Health Ireland have been approached for comment. Dollceanna’s case and 18 others are still under investigation as part of the external review.
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