Doctor could have prevented toddler's death by taking tests: coroner

A toddler who died of sepsis a day after he was discharged from hospital most likely would have lived if a doctor had taken blood tests, a NSW coroner has ruled.

Seventeen-month-old Troy Almond died of septicaemia caused by streptococcal (beta haemolytic group A) infection a day after Dr Babak Tajvidi discharged him from hospital after deciding he most likely had a viral infection.

In her finding into the death, deputy state coroner Teresa O’Sullivan accepted the evidence of three emergency physicians that Troy was displaying signs of toxicity at initial presentation and blood tests should have been taken at this time.

Further, based on a report from a paediatric infectious disease expert, these tests would likely have revealed an increased white blood cell count, predominantly neutrophils, and significantly elevated ESR, CRP and procalcitonin.

Ms O’Sullivan accepted that, on the balance of