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Tauranga Hospital has launched an investigation after the death of an eight-week-old girl from a rare blood disease.
Bella Powell had Rhesus disease and had had three blood transfusions in the womb and a fourth immediately after birth - by caesarean section five weeks early - on March
29.
After six days at Auckland, she was transferred to Tauranga's neonatal unit and discharged after a further six days there.
However, her condition continued to deteriorate until her death on May 27.
The Bay of Plenty District Health Board is investigating and the hospital's chief operating officer, Graham Dyer, said it had asked that an independent paediatrician examine how the case was managed.
The parents, Tony Hodder and Shelley Powell, said the baby's death could have been prevented if the hospital staff, GPs and a midwife had checked her blood count regularly. But the medical professionals are rebutting the allegation.
The couple were told the condition posed the greatest risk to the baby in the womb but was unlikely to cause serious problems once she was born.
They have complained to the Health and Disability Commissioner. "The system failed her," Mr Hodder said. "I just want to get her justice because I feel that there's none."
Experts have confirmed that complications from Rhesus disease beyond the first month of life are unusual and the condition is rarely fatal.
Otumoetai Doctors chairwoman Tracy Dixon said the baby's death had been discussed at a staff meeting and the clinic was satisfied with the care provided.
"Our clinic did everything that could have been expected of it," Dr Dixon said.
But Mr Hodder and Ms Powell said it seemed logical that with the baby's condition, she should have received more regular blood tests and that the hospital and GP clinic would have shared those results.
They were also unhappy with the midwife, saying the hospital had told them she would make thrice-weekly visits, but she visited only once.
The midwife did not return calls from the Herald.
The DHB's investigation will take four to six weeks.
Haematologist Peter Browett said the critical time for babies with Rhesus disease was in the womb and complications beyond a month old were rare because harmful antibodies passed from the mother to the baby lasted only 20 to 30 days.
Dr Browett, medical director of the Leukaemia and Blood Foundation and a pathology professor at Auckland University, said advances in treatment meant the disease was no longer common and fatalities were "very rare".
Police and the coroner have also been notified and a police spokesman said officers would speak to medical staff involved in the baby's care.
"As part of our duties in reporting the full facts to the coroner, we're going to have a look at the medical treatment she received."
Rhesus Disease
* Occurs when a mother's blood type is Rhesus negative and her baby's blood type is Rhesus positive.
* The mother's immune system produces antibodies that react against the baby's blood, causing its red blood cells to break down.
* Symptoms in newborns include jaundice and anaemia.
* Affected babies usually require admission to a neonatal unit for treatment such as phototherapy (treatment with light) and blood transfusions.
* Rhesus disease is rare nowadays because it can usually be prevented with injections that stop the mother developing the antibodies.
* If untreated, it can lead to stillbirth. The jaundice in a newborn can lead to learning difficulties, deafness and blindness. Baby's death from blood disease prompts probe
