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🇦🇺 Australia /Health & Science

Scurvy identified as most likely underlying factor in death of Queensland boy, coroner finds

From ABC Australia · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Deputy Queensland Coroner Stephanie Gallagher found vitamin C deficiency was the most likely underlying factor in Connor Dean’s death after cardiac arrest following a general anaesthetic.
  • Connor, who had Down syndrome, developed a shuffling gait that progressed to limping and later refused to bear weight before his death.
  • His paediatrician said he had long-standing concerns about his growth and diet and questioned the use of a multivitamin product that did not contain vitamin C.

Severe scurvy was the “most likely underlying factor” in the death of six-year-old Connor Dean, a Queensland coroner has found. Connor died at Queensland Children’s Hospital on August 10, 2024, after his heart stopped following a general anaesthetic. He suffered a severe brain injury caused by a lack of oxygen.

most likely underlying factor

· Stephanie GallagherThe deputy Queensland coroner’s finding on the role of vitamin C deficiency in Connor Dean’s death.

Deputy Queensland Coroner Stephanie Gallagher supported a forensic pathologist’s conclusion that Connor died from “hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy due to cardiac arrest following general anaesthetic, in the setting of vitamin C deficiency”. She found that Down syndrome contributed to the death, although the precise mechanism behind the cardiac arrest could not be established definitively.

Connor had undergone surgery for a heart defect as a baby. He was developmentally delayed and communicated mostly in single words. About a month before his death, his parents noticed that he had begun walking with a shuffling gait. The condition progressed to limping, and he eventually refused to put weight on his legs.

hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy due to cardiac arrest following general anaesthetic, in the setting of vitamin C deficiency

· Forensic pathologistThe medical conclusion supported by the coroner.

He was admitted to the Queensland Children’s Hospital for investigation, including a scan under general anaesthetic. After the scan, he suffered cardiac arrest and doctors revived him following eight to 10 minutes of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. As his condition worsened, specialists told his family that severe, life-threatening scurvy appeared to be a likely unifying diagnosis.

significant concerns regarding Connor's growth and nutritional deficiencies for a long time

· Connor’s paediatricianThe paediatrician described his previous concerns about Connor’s health.

Connor’s parents said they had not known about his vitamin C deficiency before the cardiac arrest. His paediatrician told the coroner he had raised significant concerns about Connor’s growth and nutritional deficiencies for a long time. In November 2023, he discussed the boy’s inadequate diet with Connor’s mother but believed the child’s nutritional needs were covered by multivitamin supplements. The doctor later questioned a product available in Australia because it contained iron and other vitamins but no vitamin C, calling it misleading to describe it as a multivitamin.

I believe that it is misleading to call this product a multivitamin when it misses essential vitamins such as Vitamin C

· Connor’s paediatricianThe doctor criticised the supplement product discussed in the coroner’s findings.
About this summary

Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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