The parents of a 10-year-old girl who died after a Strep A bacterial infection was left untreated for several days, have said they want to make sure such an event never happens to any child again.
Vivienne Murphy, who was from Millstreet in Cork, died in 2019 after a Strep A bacterial infection was left untreated for several days. She was also later diagnosed with sepsis and rare bacterial infection necrotising fasciitis.
Her parents, Lilly and Dermot, said this morning that Strep A is a curable infection with antibiotics and early diagnosis.
They said their daughter had died an horrendous death and it will affect their mental health forever.
They were speaking after the end of the second and final day of a Medical Council Fitness to Practise Committee (FTPC) inquiry.
She is a practising GP in Boherbue in Cork, and was working at out-of-ours GP service South Doc.
An unreserved apology was today read to Vivienne's parents by the lawyer for Dr Leader, on the GP's behalf.
Dr Leader said she should have emphasised the need to transfer Vivienne to hospital.
She also said the events occurred early in her career and the way she now practised had changed as a result of what happened.
The inquiry heard she is also undertaking to undergo further education on Strep A and sepsis.
Lawyers for the council said that the degree of patient harm and outcome is a factor that can be considered when deciding on a sanction on a doctor.
Barrister for the Council, Neasa Bird, told the inquiry that sanctions must be proportionate but in this case should be on the more serious level.
Yesterday, the inquiry heard that Vivienne had become unwell on Valentine's Day 2019 and died in hospital in Dublin two weeks later on 1 March.
This morning, the inquiry heard submissions on sanctions.
The Fitness to Practise committee will now consider what sanctions should apply to Dr Leader but this will not be made public.
It will send its report to a full meeting of the Medical Council, which will decide on the matter at a later date in private.
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