Grieving parents fear focus on swine flu 'blinded' staff

Jennifer and Lance Gravatt's son Zac, a student doctor, died of meningitis last July. Photo / Brett Phibbs

The parents of a student doctor killed by meningitis fear his symptoms were missed because of a "blinding" preoccupation by hospital staff with swine flu.

Zac Gravatt, a fourth-year medical student, died in Auckland City Hospital on July 8 last year. His parents, Lance and Jennifer Gravatt, have complained to the Health and Disability Commissioner and written to the coroner with their concerns about his treatment.

But Auckland District Health Board chief medical officer Dr David Sage said he was "absolutely confident" Mr Gravatt received the best possible care. "ADHB is unable to disclose details about Mr Gravatt's care as his death is before the coroner. However, I would like to reassure the public that when a patient comes into our care, they are in an expert centre with vast experience in the early diagnosis of H1N1 flu and meningococcal disease."

Mr and Mrs Gravatt have obtained a letter from the doctor responsible for their son's care who said it was his opinion Mr Gravatt had "overwhelming meningococcal sepsis at the time of presentation to hospital" and that "despite adequate antibiotic therapy and early intensive care, the outcome may have been the same".

The parents said that comment troubled them because of its apparent implication their son did not receive adequate antibiotic treatment or early intensive care.

Mr Gravatt said his son arrived at hospital just after 1.30pm but was not assessed by a consultant until nearly 5.30pm.

According to his medical records, at 3.30pm a registrar noted the possibility he had swine flu but made no comment about a lab report which revealed Mr Gravatt had abnormal kidney, liver and blood results, which is consistent with sepsis.

He was prescribed Tamiflu at 4.05pm and his first dose of antibiotics soon after.

His parents flew back from Wellington that afternoon after speaking to him about lunchtime.

"He was clearly distressed and only able to speak in short phrases with some difficulty. Zachary ended the call abruptly saying it hurt too much to speak more," said Mr Gravatt.

He spoke of the final frantic hours of his son's life as staff began to realise he was desperately ill.

"We were standing outside, still in ED, when we heard someone say, 'We'll have to bag him and run', before they took him away to be ventilated."

Soon after a nurse came through and said he was hooked up to machines and they were doing the best they could.

"Then a nurse rushed in and said, 'If you want to see your son before he dies come now,' and we rushed down the hallway and they raised this curtain ... There was this great big swollen purple blob and he died.

"We just find it very disturbing. We couldn't be there for Zac and he was lying there in pain, in distress and critically ill. Zac had absolute faith in the hospital. He was so proud to be a student doctor but he was let down."

Dr Sage said the health board extended its condolences to Mr Gravatt's family. He was unaware they had concerns, and he would like to meet them to discuss their son's medical records.