A mother is suing a hospital, claiming negligence after her infant allegedly died after a nine-hour wait.
Melissa Nowland is suing the Northern Territory government and Royal Darwin Hospital over the death of her daughter Lexie Mae Nowland in March 2022, according to a writ obtained by PEOPLE. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation was the first to report the story.
Lexie, who has previously undergone multiple heart surgeries at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, was transferred to the Northern Territory hospital for inpatient management of her congenital heart condition in January 2022, according to the documents.
After a four-day stay, the child was discharged, but she was readmitted in March to have her feeding tube changed. The hospital’s emergency department treated Lexie for vomiting, fever, and agitation during that time, according to the writ.
Lexie had a review scheduled for the following morning after being discharged for that visit, but when Melissa called the hospital with concerns about her daughter’s health that night, she claimed she was told to simply show up for Lexie’s review early the next morning, according to the document.
The following day, however, the writ claimed that Lexi “did not undergo clinical review by a paediatric consultant until” hours later, and that the infant suffered a cardiac arrest during that time.
Lexie was resuscitated, but she had another cardiac arrest hours later. Lexi was eventually declared dead that night. Lexie passed away from sepsis meningitis, according to the Australian crowdfunding website MyCause.
Melissa is now suing the government on behalf of herself, the baby’s father, and her two sisters, claiming that the hospital failed to “properly assess, treat, and manage” Lexie’s condition and provide assistance for “suspected sepsis, dehydration/fluid, and electrolyte disturbance.”
The mother further claimed that the treatment provided “fell below a reasonable standard of care.”
A Northern Territory Health spokesperson told PEOPLE, “As this matter is part of legal proceedings, NT Health is unable to provide comment.”
The lawsuit alleges that “the defendant’s negligence caused or materially contributed to the deceased’s death.”
“By reason of the defendant’s negligence, the plaintiff has suffered nervous shock and has and will continue to suffer injury, loss and damage, including psychiatric injury,” according to the paperwork.
Melissa also claimed that the hospital “failed to appreciate” her daughter’s “at risk of acute deterioration,” failed to advise her to go to the emergency room before she died, and failed “to [recognise] the parental concern in respect of [her] condition.”
She is seeking damages for psychiatric injury, compensation, and burial expenses.