‘Slim chance’ doctors could have saved seven-year-old Aishwarya from sepsis death: inquest

The child's death ignited a political firestorm amid accusations that hospital staff ignored her parent's pleas for help
Prasitha Sasidharan (front, left) and Aswath Chavittupara with a picture of their daughter Aishwarya. Photo: AAP.

The death of seven-year-old Aishwarya Aswath triggered a media and political firestorm with doctors at its centre. 

She died of sepsis hours after presenting to the ED at Perth Children’s Hospital with a fever, vomiting and diarrhoea on Easter Saturday in 2021

Her father said she waited more than 90 minutes before being formally assessed by a doctor, with the family’s pleas to escalate her care ignored as ED staff were called away on other duties.  

Amid the subsequent public outrage, AMA WA accused the State Government of throwing a junior doctor and two nurses under the bus by referring them to AHPRA, despite inadequate staffing being “evident” on the night.