Warning signs missed before Melbourne girl’s death in ED, coroner finds
The Victorian coroner says doctors at Monash Medical Centre missed opportunities to save the life of 8-year-old Amrita Lanka in 2022.
An eight-year-old girl, Amrita Lanka, passed away from myocarditis in 2022 after visiting Monash Children's Hospital's emergency department in Melbourne. A Victorian coroner ruled that her death was preventable and that the attending junior doctor, Patrick Tan, failed to recognize the severity of her condition. Amrita's mother, Satya Tarapureddi, reported that her daughter had started experiencing difficulty breathing.
Despite this, the junior doctor did not escalate treatment promptly, allowing the situation to deteriorate further. By morning, Amrita's heart had already sustained significant damage, and she suffered three cardiac arrests. The coroner noted that with timely intervention, including an earlier transfer to a specialized children's hospital, Amrita's life could have been saved.
Monash Health has since implemented changes to patient monitoring, communication, and staff education following a review of the incident.
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