June 14th 2024.
A mother from Queensland is currently in a battle for answers and justice after she had to utilize a procedure known as Ryan's Rule at the Queensland Children's Hospital for her critically ill daughter. Carly Mulheran, who tragically lost her daughter Zara in April, is seeking closure and accountability for the events leading up to her daughter's death. In her own words, Mulheran expressed, "They could have done something." This statement reflects the heart-wrenching regret and grief that she carries.
On March 25, Mulheran exercised Ryan's Rule, an emergency protocol that was established after the unfortunate passing of a child in 2007. This rule is implemented when a patient's condition does not show signs of improvement or progress while under hospital care. Mulheran requested a thorough review of her daughter's treatment after Zara's health took a turn for the worse. Sadly, by April 3, Zara's life support was turned off and the child passed away. "It's any parent's worst nightmare, deciding it's time and you've got to let them go," Mulheran painfully expressed.
Throughout Zara's short life, Mulheran was a fierce advocate for her daughter. Even after her passing, the mother continued to fight for answers. She requested medical records from the hospital and spent weeks analyzing them in hopes of understanding what had happened to her daughter. However, Mulheran claims that she has not had a single person sit down with her and explain the events that occurred on the night of March 24th which led to her daughter's intensive care unit admission. "Since she died, I have not had one single person sit down with me and explain what happened overnight on the 24th of March that led her into the ICU," Mulheran shared.
Zara, who was only 20 months old, suffered from a rare medical condition called hyperinsulinism. In addition to this, she also contracted hand, foot and mouth disease before her passing. Mulheran also had concerns about her daughter's heart that were not adequately addressed. "I believed that there was a heart and lung issue going on with her and no one listened," she expressed. In fact, an X-ray and ECG conducted at Caboolture Hospital in February revealed abnormalities in Zara's heart, suggesting that it was enlarged. However, Mulheran claims that she was never informed about these results. A month later, Zara was admitted to Queensland Children's Hospital. "They also did a chest X-ray," Mulheran stated. "That X-ray came back with pneumonia, which they told me about, but it also stated that her heart was enlarged and to call cardiology and get an echo. That wasn't done until after her cardiac arrest on the Monday."
A clinical review panel has been formed at the Queensland Children's Hospital to investigate Zara's case. However, Mulheran believes that urgent changes need to be made. "I can't save her, I can't bring her back, but I can save the next person who's sitting in that hospital right now, fighting a system that's broken," she stated. In her efforts to prevent another family from experiencing a similar tragedy, she has launched a petition for a new rule that would grant parents and nurses the authority to demand immediate medical intervention if they believe a patient is in a life-threatening situation and their concerns are being overlooked. This proposed rule would be an addition to Ryan's Rule.
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