Doctor cleared over baby's death

The children were taken to Wythenshawe Hospital

A doctor has been cleared of misconduct after a baby died of meningitis hours after being sent home from hospital.

Dr Kirsty Challen was accused of failing to examine an 11-month-old boy and his two-year-old brother, who were brought to Wythenshawe Hospital.

She said she examined both boys, who have not been named, in November 2003.

The General Medical Council (GMC) found the doctor not guilty of misconduct saying their mother "may not accurately recollect" the consultation.

High temperatures

Dr Challen told the GMC, sitting in Manchester, the boys' parents demanded they were discharged and she agreed "with some reluctance".

Both children were suffering high body temperatures but neither showed skin rashes or sensitivity to light, which frequently mark the killer disease.

The children were sent home were brought back to hospital the following morning after their symptoms persisted.

Their mother, known only as Mrs T, waited at the hospital for about seven hours, but was only seen by Dr Challen once, for a consultation that lasted about 10 minutes.

Due to the circumstances at the time she may not accurately recollect the events of that day Prof Michael Whitehouse

Less than three hours after the baby was readmitted, he suffered a heart attack and died. A post-mortem examination showed he died of acute meningitis.

The two-year-old was immediately admitted to hospital, where he stayed for six days and made a full recovery.

Panel chairman Professor Michael Whitehouse said: "The panel has been presented with two conflicting accounts of what took place during the consultation with Mrs T and her two sons on 2 November 2003.

"Mrs T categorically stated in her evidence that you did not undertake any form of physical examination of either child A or child B.

"Mrs T's account is supported by the fact that she made this assertion almost immediately after child A's death and that this has been documented in the records.

"Although Mrs T genuinely believed that no examination of the children had taken place, the panel concluded that due to the circumstances at the time she may not accurately recollect the events of that day."