“Uncooperative” Six year old blamed for her own sepsis death

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A six-year-old autistic girl who died of sepsis was “blamed” by medical staff for being uncooperative during treatment, an inquest heard.

Coco Bradford lost her life after “several opportunities” were missed by doctors and consultants to save her, including failing to order basic blood and stool samples or offering rehydrating her with a course of intravenous fluids.

Coco's mum Rachel Bradford told the coroner that staff “unforgivably” tried to cover up their own failings by blaming her daughter's autism and claiming she was being difficult to treat.

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Rachel and her husband Luke initially rushed Coco to hospital on 24 July 2017 but were sent home from the emergency department after being told she likely had Gastroenteritis.

She continued to pass liquid and bloody stools and could not hold down any fluids so was rushed back less than a day later.

The inquest heard upon admission, doctors still felt her condition was not serious despite the family pleading for more to be done.

Her condition continued to deteriorate and she was transferred from the Treliske Royal Cornwall Hospital three days after admission to the Bristol Children's Hospital, where she died of multiple organ failure caused by sepsis.

Mrs Bradford told the coroner today on Monday that she has fought for four years to get to the truth and failings around her daughter's death.

Every member of staff denied knowledge of bloody vomit and faeces yet it is in all notes.

"There were notes blaming Coco for being uncooperative. She was in a terrible amount of pain and dying in front of their eyes."

The pathologist told the coroner that Coco died on 31 July 2017 following withdrawal of intensive care and multi-organ failure.

She suffered Hemolytic uremic syndrome as a result of e coli 157.

This is so sad. Why are people on the spectrum treated like this? This is so cruel!