KEY POINTS:
Bonnie Salkeld believes her son John would be alive today if he had received proper care more quickly after a tooth extraction turned into a nightmare infection.
It is more than seven years since Mr Salkeld, a fit sportsman, died in a Dutch hospital - years his mother and brother Alan have spent fighting to hold health workers responsible.
Now the Albany family are preparing for the last avenue of appeal.
Mr Salkeld, who was working and playing rugby in the Netherlands, died aged 30 in 1999 - 16 days after he had a lower molar removed because of an abscess.
Known as "Stormy" to his rugby mates, Mr Salkeld went to St Clara hospital in Rotterdam three days after the extraction as his mouth was still painful.
The abscess was drained and he was given antibiotics, but his condition worsened and the infection spread to his chest. He was transferred to another hospital and underwent treatment.
The infection was too far advanced, however. It had already overwhelmed his major organs and he died on December 18 after being taken off life-support.
Bonnie Salkeld said her son was not checked by a doctor - he was under the care of dentists and nurses - until she flew to the Netherlands and demanded a medical assessment on the fourth day of his stay at St Clara. After being seen by a doctor he was immediately shifted to another hospital, as there was no space at St Clara's intensive care unit.
"I do believe John would be alive [if that had happened sooner]. That's why I wish I had got there 24 hours earlier."
In her long fight with Dutch authorities, New Zealand medical experts were commissioned to review the care Mr Salkeld received from St Clara.
"The standard of care and skill provided by the institution, dental and nursing staff fell well short of that expected in the circumstances," Wellington professor of medicine Richard Beasley wrote. "Had John Salkeld received a reasonable standard of care, I consider that it is likely he would have survived."
His vital signs were inadequately monitored, the dose of antibiotic was too low and a different type should have been used. After he was shifted from St Clara he received appropriate care but it was too late.
Mr Salkeld's insurance had lapsed and Professor Beasley said there was "inappropriate priority given to insurance and payment issues" at St Clara.
The hospital declined to speak to the Herald about the case while it was before the medical disciplinary court. It has previously denied Mr Salkeld's lack of medical insurance influenced the care he received.
A court directed a public prosecutor to take the case but, on appeal, a further court ruling held that while there had been a case to answer, it was out of time; five years had passed.
Bonnie and Alan Salkeld, who want to prevent similar tragedies occurring, took the case to the medical disciplinary court, which last year mildly criticised a nurse, but did not fault the two dentists involved. The Salkelds are appealing - as is the nurse.
"Some good has to come out of John's passing," said Bonnie Salkeld. "He was too good a guy to die for no reason."
