Preventable Death: Language Barriers & Sepsis

0:00It's March 19th in Sydney, let's get into the news. A coroner's court in Sydney has ruled that the death of 32-year-old G.L.A.M. was preventable. The Vietnamese Australian woman died from sepsis just three days after giving birth at Fairfield Hospital in Western Sydney back in February 2019. The sepsis stemmed from an undiagnosed urinary tract infection that doctors missed during her postpartum care. Medical staff overlooked key signs of the infection at a prenatal appointment on January 21st, and again, when she was admitted for labor, induction on January 31st. Language barriers played a big role too, as G.L.A., who had immigrated from Vietnam around 2010, was not offered a registered interpreter during. Several key interactions, despite needing one to communicate effectively. G.L.A. was described by all who saw her as a devoted and loving mother to her newborn son, who is now cared for by her aunt and uncle in Australia. The coroner expressed deep sympathy for the family, noting the tragedy of her absence

1:02from her son's life, and that her parents passed away without, knowing the full details. On the day she was discharged, G.L.A. complained of severe pain while urinating, but no interpreter was arranged, and her symptoms weren't fully addressed. A home visit by a midwife the next day also missed the urgency. The coroner said an ambulance should have been called, though experts noted she may. They have been too far gone by then, since G.S. death, Fairfield Hospital and the local health district have made big changes. Interpreter use is now mandatory for patients from diverse backgrounds during assessments, consents, and discharges. They have also updated policies for spotting symptoms early and improving escalation protocols to prevent similar tragedies. This episode is supported by our sponsor, Comfort, you can hear, Sound you can relax into, S-O-L-I, solely pillow.com.