Doctor’s daughter, 13, died alone after life-support was switched off

A MOTHER wept as she told an inquiry how her daughter died alone when her life support machine was turned off with no family by her side.

Jean Crawford, 56, was giving evidence at the fatal accident inquiry into 13-year-old Kathryn Beattie’s death on 21 June 2004.

She died at the Southern General Hospital, in Glasgow, the day after being diagnosed with leukaemia.

Ms Crawford said the first she knew of her daughter’s death was when medical staff came to draw curtains round the bed.

She had gone outside to talk with family members when she noticed the curtains being drawn.

She said: “I had absolutely no idea what had happened.”

When she asked a hospital consultant what was happening Ms Crawford said: “His words were ‘Kathryn’s dead’.”

Ms Crawford told the inquiry: “I lay with Kathryn all that night until the next morning.” She said if she had realised her daughter had been about to die she would have made sure family members and a priest were at her bedside. She told the inquiry she felt like her daughter “died alone.”

Earlier, Ms Crawford said the hospital notes from the Victoria Infirmary were “absolutely scandalous”.

The notes said Kathryn had been suffering flu-like symptoms and had been vomiting for a number of days. It also said she had bleeding gums for six days prior to her admission.

Ms Crawford said that was not accurate. “I know that can be very serious – her father was a doctor, her aunt was a doctor, this is totally ridiculous and makes me feel sick.”

She said after the family had been told Kathryn had leukaemia they were informed her platelet count was very low and had repeatedly asked for more platelets to be given.

Earlier Ms Crawford told the inquiry her daughter had been feeling ill for a few days before being admitted to hospital and had taken antibiotics but had started to feel better.

On the day Kathryn was taken to hospital she was looking very pale. Her father, a GP from whom Ms Crawford is separated, thought their daughter might have anaemia.

Procurator fiscal depute Laura Millar asked Ms Crawford if anything had made her concerned.

Her mother said: “She came up to me and she looked at me and said Mum I wanted to say something to you but it just didn’t come out right. She was saying it quite clear so I wasn’t really sure what she meant.”

At nine o’clock that night she was taken to Victoria Infirmary by ambulance.

Ms Crawford said the family were later told the results of the tests showed that Kathryn’s platelet count was 13, an abnormally low reading.

She said her husband told the doctor: “Well get platelets and get your consultant.” I think he definitely knew something was definitely wrong then.”

When the family were told their daughter had leukaemia Ms Crawford said: “I only heard ‘almost certain’, when I heard the word leukemia I just thought I was going to die.

“I was totally numb.”

The inquiry was told the family continuously asked for platelets and a consultant but neither ever arrived.

Kathryn was taken for a scan around 12:30am on 21 June 2004, before being rushed to the Southern General.

On arrival her parents were told a paediatric neurosurgeon was on her way to perform surgery on their daughter and that it was “absolutely necessary”.

Ms Crawford said they were told the chances of her daughter dying were less than 0.01 per cent and that she told her husband it would be like “getting her tonsils out” as they signed a consent form.

The inquiry before Sheriff Linda Ruxton continues.