Delays in treatment 'led to boy's death'

Delays in getting medical treatment for a 10-year-old Adelaide boy led to his death
when an ear infection turned septic, a coroner has found.
Jarrad Delroy Roberts, who lived in squalor, died in October 2006, though a post
mortem examination found his condition would have responded to antibiotics.
South Australian Coroner Mark Johns said if the boy had received earlier medical
treatment, his death could have been avoided.
"Jarrad's death was entirely preventable," Mr Johns said.
"It is clear that a significant cause of Jarrad's tragic death was the fact that
medical treatment was not afforded to him during the week and a half, or
thereabouts, that he was ill prior to his death."
In evidence to the coronial inquiry the boy's mother, Michelle Roberts, said she did
not notice he was sick until two days before he died.
But Mr Johns said it must have been apparent much earlier that Jarrad was suffering
from a most unpleasant ear infection.
He said by the time the boy was taken to see a doctor, it was too late and he was in
the grip of an overwhelming sepsis.
The coroner also detailed what he said were the boy's unusual living circumstances.
"He was living in an unsanitary environment with a mother who was completely unable
to provide him with proper care," Mr Johns said.
"In short, Jarrad was not being cared for in anything like an acceptable manner.
"His diet was completely inadequate, consisting only of takeaway fast foods.
"The circumstances in which he lived were unsanitary and would have exposed him to
risk of infection that would not be tolerated in any reasonable household."
The coroner also criticised authorities for not acting on the boy's habitual
non-attendance at school.
He said prosecutions against parents or guardians were almost never launched.
"In my opinion they should be," he said.
"This law should be enforced and prosecutions should be brought where there is a
reasonable prospect of success based on legal advice."
South Australian Education Minister Jane Lomax-Smith said the death of Jarrad
Roberts was an appalling episode and one the government would not want to happen
again.
She said the government would examine the coroner's findings carefully and respond
to its specific recommendations.
However, she said the government was already committed to introducing new
legislation to make it easier to both fine and compel parents to send their children
to school.
"These issues need to be addressed," the minister said.