The parents of a three-year-old child have received compensation from the National Health Service (NHS) after their son passed away following what was supposed to be a routine surgical procedure, during which a doctor accidentally pierced his artery. Aarav Chopra, aged three, tragically died on November 22, 2023, due to a prolonged cardiac arrest caused by the arterial puncture, leading to internal bleeding in his chest. Earlier, Aarav had undergone a liver transplant in the hopes of a fresh start, but his body rejected the new organ, prompting doctors at Birmingham Children’s Hospital to conduct a liver biopsy, a procedure that ended in a fatal error.
During the biopsy, a trainee doctor inadvertently punctured a major artery with a needle, resulting in Aarav suffering severe brain damage and eventually succumbing to the injury after doctors’ resuscitation efforts proved futile. The inquest into the child’s death revealed that the bleeding from the arterial injury went unnoticed and untreated during the biopsy. Birmingham’s Senior Coroner criticized the lack of planning and communication by the hospital staff, pointing out the disarray surrounding the trainee doctor’s experience level, which was misjudged, leading to the tragic outcome.
Following the inquest, Aarav’s parents, Kishore and Amrita, sought legal counsel from Irwin Mitchell to investigate the circumstances of their son’s care. The Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust acknowledged their responsibility for the incident and made an undisclosed settlement to the family. The Trust admitted to inadequately managing Aarav’s condition once the arterial injury was identified, expressing regret for the shortcomings that contributed to the child’s untimely death.
Kishore, aged 38, fondly remembered Aarav as a joyful child who brought light into their lives, expressing the family’s ongoing struggle to cope with the loss. Amrita, aged 36, highlighted the lack of support and communication from the hospital, emphasizing the need for better care and empathy towards grieving families. Aarav, who had biliary atresia, underwent a liver transplant but faced complications, leading to the fatal biopsy procedure due to medical oversights.
In a letter to Aarav’s parents, the Trust’s CEO and chair extended their deepest condolences for the tragic loss and acknowledged the lapses in care that led to Aarav’s passing. The Trust fully accepted the coroner’s findings and took complete responsibility in the subsequent legal proceedings, aiming to address the failures that resulted in the devastating outcome.
