Norfolk hospital admits to 'failings' in care of 11-year-old autistic boy who died of sepsis
A hospital trust has admitted that a young autistic boy should still be alive had they delivered the appropriate level of care.
In an exclusive interview with ITV News, the day before the inquest into his death, Mattheus Vieira's heartbroken parents described him as "special", adding: "And special in a good way, not just special needs."
"People may think because he was autistic he was difficult, but it's not the case, he was very easy.
"He was the boss of the house, we just miss his presence."
Mattheus, aged 11, was taken to King's Lynn Hospital, in Norfolk, with a kidney infection. He struggled to cope with medical staff taking observations, and his notes recorded him as "uncooperative".
His dad, Vitor Vieira, told ITV News: "He doesn't like to be touched, even a plaster he doesn't like.
"And they say 'Oh he does not co-operate'. He was an autistic boy, what do you expect?
Mr Vieira believes staff did not understand his son's behaviour. Mattheus was non verbal and so unable to articulate his distress.
Observations were dismissed as "inaccurate" by some medical staff. In fact, they were accurate and indicated that his kidney infection had developed into septic shock.
He suffered a cardiac arrest and died, aged 11.
Source: ITV News, 26 February 2024