The devastated parents of a three-year-old girl are demanding answers after a report revealed their daughter was mistakenly given anti-seizure medication before she died.
Perth girl Aliyah Yugovich died unexpectedly in July after contracting the flu following a tonsillectomy.
A preliminary coroner’s report has determined that Aliyah had the Topiramate, an ‘unaccounted drug’ anticonvulsant in their system, which none of the three hospitals the girl attended before her death had a record of administering.
It is still unknown how and why the medication was administered to the child.
Aliyah’s parents, Jessica and Josh Yugovich, have expressed disbelief that their little girl was given an over-the-counter medication.
“This should never have happened,” Mrs. Yugovich said. Seven news.
“I took her to the hospital because I trusted them.
‘How are we supposed to trust another medical professional again?’
Jessica (pictured left) and Josh Yugovich are mourning their three-year-old daughter, Aliyah (pictured center).
Topiramate is mainly used for preventing seizures in patients with epilepsy and treating migraines, neither of which were conditions Aliyah suffered from.
“I want to know what happened,” Mrs. 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 The independent board investigating the case on behalf of the Department of Health was not made aware of the drugs discovery until the grieving parents notified it.
“Why can’t you share this information with the SAC-1 team?” Mr. Yugovich asked.
‘Why can’t you guys work together so we can find out what happened here in a timely manner and prevent it from happening again?’
The cause of Aliyah’s death has not yet been officially determined and the coroner’s findings are expected to be known before Christmas.
Aliyah underwent tonsillectomy surgery at Perth’s St John of God Murdoch Hospital in South Perth on June 28.
Hours later on Sunday night, Aliyah was rushed to Perth Children’s Hospital’s emergency department after the little girl developed fever and flu-like symptoms, where she and her mother waited four hours to see a doctor
Aliyah was diagnosed with influenza A and was discharged three days later, on July 3.
His condition rapidly deteriorated early the next morning after he woke up coughing and vomiting blood.
Paramedics were called to the home and performed CPR for an extended period before Aliyah was rushed to Midland Hospital and placed in a coma.
She was then transferred to PCH, where she was placed on life support.
Aliyah died suddenly in July after contracting the 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.
The three hospitals were unable to comment on Aliyah’s case while investigations are underway.
It was learned that Aliyah also received an incorrect intravenous dose of the antibiotic clindamycin while receiving flu treatment at PCH.
Aliyah’s medical records indicate that her parents were never notified of the error because they were resting at the time.
The grieving parents say the only help 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 to get an appointment with a grief counselor,” Mrs. Yugovich said.
“Those three and a half months are the longest and most tortuous wait, as you try to learn to live in a world without your daughter.”
TO gofundme Because Aliyah’s family described the little girl as beautiful, intelligent, daring and very full of life.
“She made everyone laugh and lit up the room,” Tessa Pritchard wrote.
‘His beautiful face will forever be etched in our memories.’
The fundraiser, which stopped accepting donations after reaching $86,600, said it was seeking financial help to give the Yugovichs time off to grieve and cover funeral costs.
The couple is creating a foundation in Aliyah’s name to help other grieving families.