Tristen Burn Case Summary
SUMMARY OF THE CASE
Tristen Burn (13) died at the hands of negligent and irresponsible healthcare professionals. The young boy initially went to St. Mary’s Hospital in Pinetown with a fracture on his foot. After three days, he returned due to shallow breathing. The doctor then misdiagnosed him with Tuberculosis (TB). Even though Tristen’s parents had doubts they gave consent for him to be treated. His health deteriorated which led to him being transferred to RK Khan Hospital in Chatsworth. As he entered the hospital the medical staff was inattentive thus Tristen’s father, Tim, had to carry the drips which were falling out. Tristen requested to go to the toilet but was not assisted by the nurses because they were laughing and distracted. He died naked and in the arms of his father. …show more content…
At the time of Tristen’s death Tim sought assistance from the nurses but he was ignored. 1
HUMAN RIGHTS THAT WERE VIOLATED
[10] Human Dignity
Tristen was lying naked on the bed while hospital staff surrounded him and laughed.
1,2
[11] Life
Tristen’s life was shortened due to misdiagnosis of doctors and inattentive hospital staff. 1,2
[28 1.d] Be protected from maltreatment, neglect, abuse or degradation.
Tristen was neglected when his drips came off and he was not attended to. He was not assisted when he wanted to go to the bathroom. 1,2
THE IMPACTS OF THE VIOLATIONS
• Tristen’s body stopped functioning due to a reaction to the TB medication. 1
• Tristen’s parents were physically drained from going back and forth to the hospital until his death.1
• Tristen’s parents were traumatised due to their son’s unnatural death. 1
• Due to Tristen’s death, there was tension between his parents and the medical staff.1
• PATIENTS’ RIGHTS WHICH WERE VIOLATED
• [3] Access to healthcare services, including: […] a positive attitude by healthcare workers […].
• The hospital staff was “apathetic and callous”. Tristen’s drips were falling out of his arm. The nurses were careless and did not reflect a positive attitude towards their work.1,3
• [8] Be given full and accurate information so that you can make a decision on testing or
treatment.
• Tristen’s parents gave consent for the administration of Tuberculosis treatment to their son. This was based on inaccurate information presented by the doctors and this led to his death. 1,3
• [10] Be referred on for a second opinion
• Tristen’s mother, Vanessa, questioned the doctor’s diagnosis, however, he was given the treatment without a second opinion. 1,3
• [11] Not to be abandoned by a healthcare professional worker or a health facility [...]
• Tristen’s father, Tim, screamed for help after Tristan stopped breathing. A nurse who was close by ignored him, thus Tristan died. 1,3
• “He was screaming ‘I’m dying, I’m dying. I don’t want to die’”. 1
Tristen Burn (13) died at the hands of negligent and irresponsible healthcare professionals. The young boy initially went to St. Mary’s Hospital in Pinetown with a fracture on his foot. After three days, he returned due to shallow breathing. The doctor then misdiagnosed him with Tuberculosis (TB). Even though Tristen’s parents had doubts they gave consent for him to be treated. His health deteriorated which led to him being transferred to RK Khan Hospital in Chatsworth. As he entered the hospital the medical staff was inattentive thus Tristen’s father, Tim, had to carry the drips which were falling out. Tristen requested to go to the toilet but was not assisted by the nurses because they were laughing and distracted. He died naked and in the arms of his father. …show more content…
At the time of Tristen’s death Tim sought assistance from the nurses but he was ignored. 1
HUMAN RIGHTS THAT WERE VIOLATED
[10] Human Dignity
Tristen was lying naked on the bed while hospital staff surrounded him and laughed.
1,2
[11] Life
Tristen’s life was shortened due to misdiagnosis of doctors and inattentive hospital staff. 1,2
[28 1.d] Be protected from maltreatment, neglect, abuse or degradation.
Tristen was neglected when his drips came off and he was not attended to. He was not assisted when he wanted to go to the bathroom. 1,2
THE IMPACTS OF THE VIOLATIONS
• Tristen’s body stopped functioning due to a reaction to the TB medication. 1
• Tristen’s parents were physically drained from going back and forth to the hospital until his death.1
• Tristen’s parents were traumatised due to their son’s unnatural death. 1
• Due to Tristen’s death, there was tension between his parents and the medical staff.1
• PATIENTS’ RIGHTS WHICH WERE VIOLATED
• [3] Access to healthcare services, including: […] a positive attitude by healthcare workers […].
• The hospital staff was “apathetic and callous”. Tristen’s drips were falling out of his arm. The nurses were careless and did not reflect a positive attitude towards their work.1,3
• [8] Be given full and accurate information so that you can make a decision on testing or
treatment.
• Tristen’s parents gave consent for the administration of Tuberculosis treatment to their son. This was based on inaccurate information presented by the doctors and this led to his death. 1,3
• [10] Be referred on for a second opinion
• Tristen’s mother, Vanessa, questioned the doctor’s diagnosis, however, he was given the treatment without a second opinion. 1,3
• [11] Not to be abandoned by a healthcare professional worker or a health facility [...]
• Tristen’s father, Tim, screamed for help after Tristan stopped breathing. A nurse who was close by ignored him, thus Tristan died. 1,3
• “He was screaming ‘I’m dying, I’m dying. I don’t want to die’”. 1