Boy left in vegetative state after operation

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This article was published 30/01/2010 (5789 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Dylan Campbell went into Children’s Hospital for a tonsillectomy in November.

He turns 12 on Monday, in a vegetative state in the same hospital where doctors say "his prognosis for meaningful brain recovery remains poor."

Dylan’s family and at least two aboriginal organizations want an investigation to find out what happened to the child and why.

"He was a happy, healthy little boy," Dylan’s dad, Jerry Campbell said Friday.

"Now he’s just sitting there. He has to be changed and he has to be tube-fed. Everything has to be done for him.

"All I’m hearing is ‘I’m sorry, I’m sorry.’ "

The father said his son suffered a cardiac arrest five days after the surgery and shortly after his mother rushed him back to the hospital because he was coughing up blood and having trouble breathing.

Dylan’s mother, Sandra Campbell, said the only thing hospital staff did for her son before his heart stopped was to give him a pan to collect the blood.

"He was puking — we had half a basin of blood clots and vomit," Sandra said. "He was gasping for air."

Sandra said because her son was flailing around, hospital staff restrained him, using so much force he was left with bruising on his arms and shoulders.

Jerry said when he showed up and saw what the hospital staff were doing to his son, he became so angry security staff were called and took him away. But Jerry said hospital staff brought him back to the emergency department a few minutes later.

"I can hear my wife screaming, ‘He’s gone, he’s gone.’

"Now they were rushing to do something."

Despite the efforts of doctors, a letter from Health Sciences Centre to the family says Dylan is "in a vegetative state… totally dependent on his caregivers to meet all his needs."

Jerry said the family has already met with Health Minister Teresa Oswald, who said she would look into the case.

The father said his family is opposed to shutting down his son’s life-support.

He said a doctor asked him "Do you think Dylan would want to live in this state?" and he replied, "Just seeing my son fight for his life every day is good enough for me.

"We’re going to have him home."

Katherine Washchyshyn, a Health Sciences Centre spokeswoman, confirmed the hospital is looking into Dylan’s case as a "critical incident review."

"A team leader is assigned and does a thorough investigation. The results will be shared with the family."

Damon Johnston, president of the Aboriginal Council of Winnipeg, said his organization is supporting the family.

And Grand Chief Morris Swan Shannacappo, of the Southern Chiefs Organization, said he wants to find out who is responsible for Dylan’s condition.

"This is a great tragedy," the grand chief said.

"Something as simple as an operation to get your tonsils removed and then to be non-responsive to giving care is totally unacceptable.

"We want it investigated and I hope it’s not internal."

 

— With files from the First Nations Voice

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca