Asthma boy's death 'avoidable'

Owen died after suffering an asthma attack

An eight-year-old boy who died in a doctor's surgery would still be alive if the GP had called for an ambulance immediately, a doctor has claimed.

Dr Tom Marshall, a consultant paediatrician, made the claim in evidence to a fatal accident inquiry.

The probe is investigating the death of Owen Charleston, who collapsed and died of an asthma attack at a health centre in Cumbernauld in August 2002.

Dr Marshall works at Edinburgh's Royal Hospital for Sick Children.

'Full recovery'

Giving evidence on the fourth day of the inquiry, Dr Marshall was asked by the fiscal depute: "If Owen had been referred to Yorkhill at 1600 GMT would he have survived?"

The doctor replied: "Yes, I think he would have recovered. If Dr Julie Mallon had sent him to Yorkhill at a time when he was breathing there is a very good chance he would have made a full recovery.

"Once you get as far as hospital it is very, very uncommon for a patient to die of asthma."

Owen's mother Michelle Hynes broke down in tears

Owen's mother, Michelle Hynes, broke down in tears in court, and some of her family were so distressed they had to leave the courtroom.

Dr Marshall added: "Even if he had been in the ambulance en route, they would have had the proper aids to give him a good chance of survival.

"There is always a high risk in children with asthma and GP's would normally, particularly since Owen was just out of hospital, refer them straight back immediately, missing out the visit to the surgery."

Earlier the inquiry heard from Owen's GP, who rejected suggestions that she had placed too much emphasis on suspecting that the eight-year-old suffered a panic attack.

But Dr Mallon admitted to the inquiry that she had asked Owen's mother to fetch his nebuliser mask from home.

Dr Mallon said she wanted to save money for the NHS. The masks cost between £20 and £30.

The inquiry at Airdrie Sheriff Court, before Sheriff Robert Dickson, continues.