Toddler Ryan Saunders died 14 years ago when doctors at Emerald Hospital in rural Central Queensland failed to diagnose his streptococcal infection.
His legacy, what’s known as “Ryan’s Rule”, has helped a desperate couple get a correct — and potentially life-saving — diagnosis for their baby son, Jarrod.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Queensland family enacts ‘Ryan’s Rule’ after sick baby misdiagnosed at hospital.
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“Potentially, they could have been burying their son if that wasn’t there,” Jarrod’s grandfather Terry McDaniel said.
Jarrod’s parents took him to Caboolture Hospital, north of Brisbane, in October last year when he developed puffy eyes.
A doctor diagnosed an allergy and they were given a prescription for an antihistamine, according to McDaniel.
The medicine did not lead to any improvement and Jarrod soon developed a rash around his face.
His parents took him back to the hospital emergency department, where he was diagnosed with the common skin condition eczema.
The young family returned to the hospital the next day for an ultrasound of Jarrod’s abdomen.
While at the hospital, Jarrod was “deteriorating quite rapidly”, McDaniel said.
“His eyes started to roll back in his head and he hadn’t done a wet nappy, wasn’t feeding,” he said.
“He was very, very unwell. Very sick baby.
“She (Jarrod’s mother) had to bash on the door to get somebody’s attention, to get someone to come out, and that’s when they admitted him.”
The family was taken to the emergency department before being transferred to the paediatric ward, McDaniel said.
After waiting in the ward for “about an hour”, Jarrod’s father spotted a poster about “Ryan’s Rule”, which allows parents and caregivers to get a clinical review — essentially a second medical opinion — about their child’s condition.
Ryan’s Rule
“He rang the number and within 10 minutes a senior paediatric doctor came in, took one look at him and said, ‘This kid’s got golden staph’,” McDaniel said.
“And they administered antibiotics straight away.
“It was that bad, they had to administer an opioid to a six-month-old baby.”
Golden staph, or staphylococcus aureus, is a bacterial infection that can cause blood poisoning or pneumonia, which can be fatal, especially to young children.
While Jarrod has recovered, the family believes he may have suffered long-term damage.
He has since been significantly attached to his mother, McDaniel reports, and could have nerve damage on his face.
“That’s yet to be determined. Only time will tell how bad the ongoing effects are from having that particular sickness,” McDaniel said.
Hospital’s response
The couple has engaged a lawyer to look at the possibility of suing Queensland Health over Jarrod’s treatment.
In a statement, Metro North Hospital and Health Service chief executive Elizabeth Rushbrook said Jarrod’s treatment has been reviewed and the findings acted on.
“We have taken the learnings from this complaint to improve our service and the care we provide to the community,” she said.
Health Minister Shannon Fentiman has acknowledged the suffering of Jarrod and his family.
“Any parents who have a sick child, my heart goes out to them,” she said on Tuesday.
“I understand the hospital has been working with the family and there has been an investigation by the Health Ombudsman.”
Jarrod’s parents declined to be named for this report to protect their privacy.