Doctors ignored the concerns of a seriously ill girl's parents before reducing her pain medication, an inquest has heard.
Melody Driscoll, from Croydon, died aged 11 at King's College Hospital (KCH) in July 2018.
Her mother Karina Driscoll and stepfather Nigel alleged the actions of KCH reduced Melody's quality of life. She told Southwark Coroner's Court that a reduction in painkillers also contributed to her daughter's death.
The family had been in dispute with KCH over the treatment given to Melody, who had several conditions including Rett syndrome, a rare and life-limiting genetic disorder that causes mental and physical disability.
Doctors wanted to wean Melody off painkillers, but her parents objected because the plan went against the treatment regime she had previously been prescribed at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH).
The court heard Melody suffered from very severe pain, requiring continuous relief, including morphine, for much of her life.
In a written statement read out by barrister Patricia Woodcock QC, Mrs Driscoll said although her daughter could not speak, she made recognisable signs when she was in pain, including tensing her muscles. However, she claimed staff at KCH had a "we know best attitude" and did not listen to her concerns.
"I would say that KCH took a very negative view about Melody, and us as a family, from an early age and, for example, started to believe that Melody's pain behaviours were not in fact expressions of pain but her simply 'acting out'," Mrs Driscoll said.
Source: BBC News, 22 March 2021
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