A Perth nurse and junior doctor say they don’t recall desperate parents pleading for a blood test during their toddler’s first hospital visit, days before he died of an undiagnosed form of leukaemia.
The tragic death of 21-month-old Sandipan Dhar is now the focus of a coronial inquest, examining whether a simple blood test could have saved his life.
Sandipan died at Joondalup Health Campus in March 2024. A post-mortem revealed he had acute blastoma leukaemia, undiagnosed despite two visits to the emergency department for a persistent fever following routine vaccinations.
As per ABC, Sandipan’s parents, Sanjoy and Saraswati Dhar, claim they repeatedly asked for a blood test during their first ED visit and even had a referral from their GP. But hospital staff claim they have no memory of the request.
“I would document it in the notes if it was a repeated or insistent request, perhaps,”
nurse Carlo Rocchiccioloi told the court.
Junior doctor Caolan O’Hearrain acknowledged the GP letter mentioned blood tests, but said the request didn’t appear urgent or repeated.
“They’d gone to their GP a few times and the GP had sent them in looking to get bloods done,” he said, adding that he was reassured by the toddler’s improving temperature and heart rate.
Coroner Sarah Linton said the inquest would explore whether a blood test during Sandipan’s initial visit could have flagged the blood disease in time.
After being discharged, it is reported that Sandipan’s condition worsened. The family returned to the ED on 24 March. He died that evening.
In the weeks leading up to his death, Sandipan was also seen twice by Dr Sanjeev Rana at Key Largo Medical Centre. Initially, diagnosing tonsillitis, Dr Rana became increasingly concerned and wrote a referral letter urging a hospital blood test.
“This is a kid with a fever for three weeks,” Dr Rana told the court.
“He looked miserable. I just couldn’t ignore the parental concern.”
Despite the referral, the court heard that by the time Sandipan was brought back to ED, his condition had become irreversible.
Only Sandipan’s father was present in court on Tuesday. Outside, he expressed frustration at the condolences offered.
“These are by force … I should have heard it one year prior, not today,” he said.
“I can only accept the apology from Dr Rana because I can see that it came from his heart.
The rest I don’t.”
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